AIMS: To clarify the impact of alcohol intake on skeletal muscle mass (SMM) using data from Japanese health checkup recipients (8405 males and 11,509 females). The fat-free (FF) index was regarded as the FF mass divided by height squared (kg/m METHODS: The subjects were classified into four groups (type A (never drinker), B (chance or mild drinker), C (moderate drinker), and D (severe drinker)) according to the amount of alcohol consumed. RESULTS: The average age in males and females was 52.2 and 50.1 years, respectively ( CONCLUSIONS: Habitual heavy drinking has a negative effect on SMM. However, from the standpoint of maintaining SMM, it is not necessary to completely abstain from alcohol.