Specific alcoholic beverage associations with the waist-to-hip ratio were characterized in 12,145 African-American and white men and women ages 45-64 years. Estimated waist-to-hip ratios of those consuming more than six nonwine alcohol drinks/week and more than six wine drinks/week (vs. nondrinkers) were 0.007 larger (p < 0.001) and 0.009 smaller (p < 0.05), respectively. In similar comparisons, the odds ratios for a large waist-to-hip ratio were 1.4 (95% confidence interval 1.1-1.7) for nonwine and 0.45 (95% confidence interval 0.21-0.95) for wine intake. The opposite direction in adjusted associations for wine and nonwine (mainly beer) drinking supports the popular concept of the "beer belly."