The alcohol industry's clinking glasses in celebration, as a study reveals moderate drinking could actually help, not hinder, heart health.

Spirits New Zealand Chief Executive Robert Brewer said the British Medical Journal study's shown the key is in the amount, and frequency, of alcohol consumption.

"A global study basically found that if you drink moderately -- one, two standard drinks a day -- then your heart health is improved more than if you don't drink at all."

Mr Brewer said New Zealand's drinking culture is improving - moving away from the notorious binge-drinking approach to a more moderate and sensible way of enjoying alcohol.

He said the key is to educate young people about how to behave in order to get health benefits, not problems, from enjoying a drink or two.

"There's no doubt that 80 per cent of us who drink, drink moderately and responsibly but 20 per cent of us don't and it's that 20 per cent that need to understand what moderate drinking's all about and what appropriate drinking is all about."