BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown inconsistent findings regarding the association of alcohol consumption with sarcopenia. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigated the association of alcohol consumption with sarcopenia in a nationally representative sample of US adults. METHODS: This population-based study included adults aged 18 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. Alcohol exposure was defined as daily alcohol intake, alcohol drinking history, number of drinking days per week, and frequency of binge drinking days per month. Weighted logistic regressions were used to determine associations. RESULTS: Four cohorts were selected from the NHANES III: cohort 1 ( CONCLUSION: Alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in all individuals, with this association being primarily observed in females rather than males.