In a recent study, alcoholic beverages have been linked to causing an increased risk in breast cancer among women.

Results of the study were revealed at the European Cancer Conference in Barcelona, Spain, last week.

Whether a woman is drinking wine or beer, the Kaiser Permanente study found it is the amount of alcohol consumed, not the type, that contributes to breast cancer risks. Previously, researchers had found that alcohol intake in general increased breast cancer risk in epidemiological studies.

Lindsey Nordaas, senior in dietetics, said she has a family history of breast cancer.

“[The study] kind of scares me a little bit and makes me think about changing my lifestyle,” Nordaas said.

This study looked at the drinking habits of about 70,033 women from all races. Out of those women, 2,829 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The women in the study filled out alcohol consumption surveys almost 30 years ago and the habits of the women with breast cancer were compared to those without breast cancer.

The research study found that drinking just one to two alcoholic beverages a day increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 10 percent. The risk increased proportionally to the quantity of alcohol consumed. Drinking three glasses of alcohol regularly increased the risk by 30 percent.

Previously, new studies touted the heart-healthy benefits of drinking a glass of wine a day. A glass of wine can provide benefits such as lowering blood pressure, inhibiting blood clot formation and raising good cholesterol.

Scientists contribute wine’s different health benefits and risks to the body’s different biological mechanisms. Wine can prevent heart attacks, yet increase your chance of breast cancer.

All the different studies released about alcohol’s affects on the body can confuse the public on what is best for their health.

“[The study] makes me think more about [drinking]. I don’t think it will affect my decision to drink. That sounds bad but it’s true,” said Abigail Glaser, sophomore in dietetics.

Lindsey Harmsen, sophomore in psychology, is not of legal age to drink yet, but she said, “It makes me not want to drink as much when I turn 21. I might be more careful on how much and how many times I drink.”