According to the Actuarial Society, abusing alcohol can take an average of 10 to 15 years off of your life. The most frequent cause of premature death from alcoholism is heart disease, followed by cancer, accidents and suicide.

Even though alcohol abuse can shorten your life expectancy, insurers don't have strict rules about when someone is a "problem drinker" or an "alcoholic." Underwriting is considered more of an art than a science when it comes to determining the risks associated with alcohol.

Insurers will generally ask you about your alcohol use, as part of the application process. Underwriters rarely deny coverage simply based on this answer, but it could prompt further investigation into your alcohol use.

Life insurance applications also include questions about your medical history that insurers can use to gain insight into your alcohol use. While alcohol has the potential to damage every organ in the body, certain medical conditions are often strongly associated with alcohol use.

If you were required to give a blood sample as part of your life insurance application, the insurer will usually test your blood for the presence of liver enzymes. Elevated liver enzymes may signal alcohol-related medical problems.

Elevated liver enzymes can also suggest there is something seriously wrong with your health that isn't related to drinking.

For some life insurance applications, insurers may ask your doctor to send them information about your health - an attending physician's FMR (Full Medical Report). Insurers use the FMR to check for indications that alcohol is affecting your health, as well as for evidence of other medical conditions. In many cases the FMR can be just as subjective as your own answers, but if your doctor has concerns about your drinking, chances are your insurer will, too.

"Part of the problem is that people don't like to admit to alcohol abuse" says KSB Mani, Consultant - Life Practice at Dr. Insurance, "Even physicians often just nibble around the edges, so insurers always look at pieces of the puzzle."

If one or more of these red flags show up on your life insurance application, the underwriter has several choices:  

So while one  or two pegs a week might not lead to an increased premium when you apply, if that were combined with an abnormal liver function test or an admission that you drink heavily, it might make it impossible for you to find affordable life insurance. Conversely, if you admit to drinking fairly heavily but your liver tests are normal or only slightly elevated, you might still be able to get standard rates.

How can you lower your life insurance premium ?

"The key to lowering your life insurance premiums", say Mani, "depends largely on which of the red flags about alcohol use triggered the increase".

If you are being charged higher base premiums for your life insurance because of elevated liver enzymes or one of the other indicators of alcohol abuse, you will have to be proactive. You will need to quit or moderate your drinking and make sure your Doctor documents the positive effects this has on your health over a period of six months to two years.

Once you have improved your health and reduced alcohol's impact, you should qualify for lower life insurance rates. If your current insurer is unwilling to lower your rates, there's a good chance another underwriter will take your lifestyle and health improvements into account.