The cross-sectional relationship between reported alcohol consumption and coronary risk factors was investigated in the three-community Coronary Risk Factor Study (CORIS) population, consisting of 7,188 participants. Among drinkers of both sexes, the lowest level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, tobacco use, body mass index, total daily energy expenditure, uric acid and Bortner score were found at the lower end of the alcohol consumption range. Non-drinkers had higher mean values for most of these risk factors than light drinkers. An increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a progressive increase in almost all the risk factors. Although men used more alcohol than women, at comparable alcohol consumption levels women generally had lower levels of risk factors than men.