HEALTH chiefs should tell Brits to drink six beers or glasses of wine every week to boost their heart health, a study suggests.

Teetotallers and occasional drinkers faced a higher risk of heart attack and angina than those who boozed consistently.

Binge drinkers and quitters were also more likely to suffer than those who regularly drank within government guidelines.

Researchers analysed the drinking habits and health of 35,132 British and French patients over a ten year period.

One in 20 suffered an event linked to coronary heart disease, such as heart attack or angina, of which some were fatal.

Those who consistently drank within the government’s guidelines – around six pints of beer or small glasses of wine – suffered least.

Those who varied between moderate drinking and never drinking faced an 18 per cent higher risk, the University College London boffins found.

Consistent teetotallers were 47% more likely to suffer and former drinkers 31% higher. Only former drinkers were more likely to die.

Study leader Dara O’Neill said: “This finding suggests that policies and interventions specifically encouraging consistency in adherence to lower-risk drinking guidelines could have public health benefits in reducing the population burden of CHD.”

Victoria Taylor, from the British Heart Foundation, said: “There is a balance to be sought between the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption.

“We must bear in mind that there may be implications for other circulatory conditions, such as stroke and vascular dementia, as well as for cancers.

“There are much safer ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, like keeping fit and eating well.”

The findings are published in the journal BMC Medicine.