New Study Debunks Benefits of Moderately Drinking Alcohol

A new study published in JAMA Network Open calls into question the long-held belief that moderate drinking, or a drink or two per day, is better for one's health than not drinking at all, Fortune reports.

The study examined 107 research studies conducted between 1980 and 2021, involving over 4.8 million participants with an average age of around 56.

Defining the One Drink

Now, to explain the "one drink" better, Healthline says experts define a drink as the amount of alcohol present in 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits, which is roughly equivalent to a shot.

Alternatively, a standard drink can be measured as 12 ounces of beer, equivalent to a standard can, or 8 ounces of malt liquor, roughly three-quarters of a pint glass. For those who prefer wine, a standard drink is considered to be 5 ounces of wine, which is nearly half a glass.

If you drink that much alcohol on a daily basis, then you are considered a "moderate drinker."

Debunking the Myth of Beneficial Moderate Drinking

According to the JAMA study, previous research suggested that moderate drinking was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause that may have been influenced by systemic biases.

In older studies, light and moderate drinkers were also deemed to have better health indicators than non-drinkers, including dental hygiene, diet, exercise routines, weight, and income.

Furthermore, previous studies lacked a diverse sample, resulting in an overrepresentation of older white men and an underrepresentation of women and younger people.

As Tim Stockwell, a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and one of the authors of the new study, pointed out to the New York Times, "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."

However, once the samples were adjusted to make them more representative, the benefits of moderate drinking were found to be negligible.

Risks of Drinking

Instead of painting casual drinkers in a brighter shade, the study revealed that female drinkers who consumed more than 25 grams of alcohol per day, equivalent to about two 5-ounce glasses of wine, had a greater risk of premature death. For male drinkers, the risk increased to 45 grams of alcohol per day.

To further back all these new findings, previous research funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation suggested that young adults aged 15 to 39 had no health benefits from drinking alcohol.

Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleeplessness, depression, and an increased risk of injury, as well as high blood pressure, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Despite the bad news for those who relish a glass of wine with dinner, this study emphasizes the importance of moderation and health consciousness.

Individuals could also focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep rather than relying on alcohol for its claimed health benefits.

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