A Little of What You Fancy Doesn't Do You Any Good?

Drinkers and brewers/distillers have been reassured by a plethora of studies, apparently suggesting that, moderate daily alcohol intake, extends lives. A paper in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, however, analysed more than 100 of these published studies. It found that the so-called 'J curve' effect, where death rates seemed lowest in individuals who drink a little, was an artefact. The apparent 'benefit' of modest alcohol intake disappeared, when former drinkers were eliminated from the abstainers category. These were generally people, with underlying issues, who had stopped drinking for health reasons. In many studies they made moderate drinkers look good in comparison (https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/25/moderate-drinking-not-better-for-health-than-abstaining-analysis-suggests). The lead author of this new analysis concludes that "estimates of the health benefits from alcohol have been exaggerated while its harms have been underestimated in most previous studies". There's now growing evidence that even a modest level of alcohol ingestion increases the risk of premature death and illness. Many alcohol producers may not want this information to be widely disseminated. It's, however, an important finding for health policy.