Check out this answer from Consensus:

The evidence suggests that there is a threshold of around 30 grams of alcohol per day, above which the risk of liver damage significantly increases. Women are more susceptible to liver damage at lower levels of alcohol consumption compared to men. While a dose-response relationship exists, indicating that higher consumption leads to greater risk, even low levels of alcohol intake can pose some risk, particularly for liver cancer. Other factors such as age, obesity, and lifestyle choices can further influence the risk, suggesting that public health guidelines should consider these variables when defining safe alcohol consumption limits.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and liver damage is a critical public health issue. Researchers have investigated whether there is a specific threshold of alcohol intake that increases the risk of liver damage, including conditions such as cirrhosis and non-cirrhotic liver damage (NCLD). This synthesis examines the findings from multiple studies to determine if a safe threshold for alcohol consumption exists before causing liver damage.

Key Insights

• Threshold of 30 g/day for Liver Damage:

  • Several studies indicate that consuming more than 30 grams of alcohol per day significantly increases the risk of developing liver damage, including cirrhosis and NCLD1 3 9.

• Higher Risk in Women:

  • Women are at a higher risk of developing liver damage at lower levels of alcohol consumption compared to men. Studies suggest that women have a higher relative risk for liver disease at the same levels of alcohol intake2 3 4.

• Dose-Response Relationship:

  • There is a dose-response relationship between alcohol intake and liver damage, meaning the risk increases with higher alcohol consumption. This relationship is observed without a clear threshold, suggesting that even low levels of alcohol can increase the risk, albeit to a lesser extent6 7 9.

• Impact of Drinking Patterns:

  • Drinking patterns, such as consuming alcohol outside of mealtimes and drinking multiple types of alcoholic beverages, further increase the risk of liver damage1.

• Influence of Other Factors:

  • The risk of liver damage is also influenced by other factors such as age, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. These factors can lower the threshold at which alcohol consumption becomes harmful10.

• No Safe Level for Liver Cancer:

  • Studies on liver cancer indicate that even low levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of liver cancer, with a more pronounced risk at higher levels of intake7 8.

Is there a threshold of alcohol use before causing liver damage?

Ramon Bataller has answered Likely An expert from University of Pittsburgh in Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Alcohol Use

Typically 3 drinks per day in men and 2 in women.