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Study: No Health Benefit From Any Alcohol Level
26 Oct
Summary
- Even moderate drinking, 14 drinks weekly, raises premature death risk.
- Small alcohol amounts offer no overall health benefits, study finds.
- Two drinks daily are linked to substantially elevated death risk.
New research indicates that any quantity of alcohol consumption is linked to health risks, and no level provides an overall health benefit. A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that even moderate drinking, defined as up to 14 alcoholic drinks per week, can increase the likelihood of premature death.
Researchers assessed thousands of scientific publications to examine alcohol's connection to various health problems, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. They concluded that potential benefits, such as those sometimes associated with heart health from certain drinks like wine, are outweighed by the risks of other diseases, even at consumption levels of seven drinks per week.
The study's findings contrast with long-held beliefs about the advantages of light drinking. Current US Dietary Guidelines encourage limiting alcohol but lack specific quantitative thresholds. This new research aims to provide a clearer understanding of the risks across the entire spectrum of alcohol consumption.
