In the 2008 movie “The Hangover,” Zach Galifianakis (Alan), Bradley Cooper (Phil), and Justin Bartha (Doug) prove the point that researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues made in a recent paper published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs: Young people get the least health benefit from drinking alcohol.

There’s a lot of information out there about how consuming a moderate amount of any alcohol, including wine, helps reduce the risk of heart disease. It may do this by remodeling your gut biome and boosting levels of heart-friendly omega-3 fatty acids.

But these researchers point out that age is a major factor in determining deaths prevented by alcohol consumption.

Almost 36 percent of total deaths caused by alcohol occurred in people 20 to 49 years old.

However, of the deaths determined to have been prevented by alcohol consumption, only 4.5 percent occurred in this younger age group. And 80 percent occurred in people 65 and older.

So while moderation is essential at any age, younger folks should realize they're not gaining as many benefits as their elders with a glass or two of wine.

One thing is certain, though: Excessive drinking (daily or bingeing) can lead to addiction, damage your cells, and increase your risk for cancer.

Want the benefits without alcohol? Grapes, berries, and almost any fruit and vegetable help protect the heart and prevent some cancers and vision problems better than red wine.

Many fruits and vegetables also deliver heart-loving fiber and other nutrients.