Key points from article :
A new analysis suggests that moderate drinking may not offer health benefits over abstaining from alcohol. Researchers in Canada reviewed 107 studies on alcohol consumption and longevity and found that previous studies often compared drinkers with individuals who abstained due to health issues, thus skewing results. This flaw made moderate drinkers appear healthier than they might be in reality.
The team from the University of Victoria led the study, which highlights that many prior conclusions about the benefits of moderate drinking were based on faulty comparisons. The findings, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, indicate that when high-quality studies are considered, which properly account for people who have quit drinking for health reasons, no clear benefit of moderate drinking on lifespan is observed.
The research challenges the common belief that moderate drinking extends life, a notion which has influenced health guidelines and alcohol policies. The study revealed that apparent benefits were overstated and that the health harms of alcohol are often underestimated.
Other studies have linked alcohol to significant health risks, including various cancers and liver disease. For instance, research from 2018 and a large study of Chinese men reported alcohol as a leading risk factor for several serious conditions.
Dr. Iona Millwood from the University of Oxford, co-author of a related study, pointed out that drinking patterns are often associated with other health factors, which can further complicate the assessment of alcohol's impact on health.
