Moderate Drinking Doesn’t Actually Benefit Your Health, Research Proves

For many years, the general consensus was that while overconsumption of alcohol was clearly harmful for your health, moderate drinking could actually come with several health benefits and was better than not drinking at all. In fact, it was widely posited that those who had the occasional bevvy were less likely to die prematurely of all causes, not just alcohol-related ones. However, a new analysis of more than four decades worth of research into the topic has proven that the opposite is true. Not only are there no benefits to moderate drinking, it could actually be seriously screwing us over.

1. The old studies were completely misleading. Scientists say part of the reason we got it wrong for so is that most of the studies saying moderate alcohol consumption was okay were observational only. In other words, they weren’t peer-reviewed or performed in lab, where results could be tested and verified. Plus, the results didn’t consider the fact that moderate drinkers tend to be more moderate in all areas of life and therefore tend to have fewer health problems than those who drink heavily or not at all. “When you compare this unhealthy group to those who go on drinking, it makes the current drinkers look more healthy and like they have lower mortality,” said Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and one of the new report’s authors, Tim Stockwell, explained, per the New York Times.
2. Once all factors were taken into account, the truth quickly came to light. Dr. Stockwell said that once the previously-ignored factors were taken into account, it became clear to see that moderate drinking wasn’t as beneficial or as harmless as we thought. “Lo and behold, the supposed health benefits of drinking shrink dramatically, and become non-statistically significant,” he said.
3. Women in particular are in danger. The new report, published in JAMA Network Open last week, found that premature death rates for women increase significantly if they drink a mere 25 grams of alcohol daily. That’s less than two glasses of wine or two 12-ounce beers. Men have a slightly higher tolerance before mortality rates increase — 45g of alcohol.
4. Moderate drinkers do have a lot of things going for them. Scientists say that those who have alcohol occasionally are more likely to exercise regularly, eat well, and maintain a healthy weight. They also tend to have higher incomes and even better dental health. All of these things contribute to better health, but they have nothing to do with how much alcohol the person is consuming.
5. The alcohol industry is at fault for many of the misconceptions we have about drinking. In fact, it’s been uncovered in recent years that they’ve funded some of the very studies that claimed booze is good for us. Wine in particular has been hailed as a health-promoting form of alcohol. However, it’s since been proven that even drinking wine in moderate amounts could contribute to high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and even some cancers.
6. We need to reduce our reliance on alcohol. Having a glass of wine when you go on vacation twice a year isn’t going to kill you.However, it shouldn’t be a regular part of anyone’s life. And, if you feel offended by the mere suggestion of giving up alcohol and getting sober, you may want to examine why you’re so attached to drinking. Your health will thank you for it.