For people over 50, alcohol may positively affect the cardiovascular system by

Alcohol may positively affect the cardiovascular system of people over 50 years old by reducing the risk of clot formation.

Just like with the other body systems, excessive alcohol can have lethal effects on the cardiovascular system. Chronic alcohol use can upsurge the workload of the heart which can then lead to arrhythmia's or what is called an irregular heart beat, inflammation of the heart muscle or myocarditis, weakening of the heart muscle or cardiomyopathy, increased cholesterol, and even hypertension. Other problems are prominent with blood clotting and an increased workload of the heart that is linked to cirrhosis of the liver.