Moderate drinking not better for health than abstaining, analysis suggests

A recent analysis of 107 studies on alcohol consumption and longevity challenges the notion that moderate drinking is healthier than abstaining. Researchers from Canada found that previous studies often compared drinkers with abstainers who may have reduced or quit drinking due to health issues, skewing results in favor of moderate drinkers. This analysis revealed that the supposed health benefits of light to moderate drinking, which suggested a 14% lower risk of death compared to abstainers, largely disappeared when accounting for the health status of participants. The study's lead author, Dr. Tim Stockwell, emphasized that many abstainers are likely to be unhealthy, which misrepresents the health outcomes of moderate drinkers. The findings suggest that the alcohol industry's promotion of moderate drinking as beneficial has influenced public health policies and guidelines, despite evidence indicating that even low levels of alcohol consumption can be harmful. Previous research has linked alcohol to numerous health risks, including various cancers and other diseases. Experts, including Dame Sally Davies, have stated that there is no safe level of alcohol intake. The study highlights the need for a reevaluation of the perceived benefits of moderate drinking, as biases in research may have led to an overestimation of its health advantages and an underestimation of its risks.