Study: Light drinking doesn't help you live longer

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] A new review challenges the long-held belief that moderate drinking is good for health. The analysis, conducted by a team of Canadian researchers, points to flaws in several studies that appear to support moderate drinking and suggests that even small amounts of alcohol can pose significant health risks.

"Alcohol is a very important substance in our society, so it's important to get it right when it comes to the risks that drinking can bring. Even though it's a legal substance and many people enjoy it, it's also preventable leading cause of death," said Timothy Naimi, director of the Canadian Institute on Drug Abuse.

The study, published earlier in 2024 in the Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, re-evaluated existing research on alcohol consumption and longevity. The findings suggest there are significant scientific limitations to many of the studies showing the benefits of moderate drinking.

In contrast, higher quality studies often show no such benefit.

Nano and his team analyzed 107 published studies that followed individuals over time to examine the relationship between drinking habits and longevity.

Initially, the data showed that light to moderate drinkers (those who drank one drink per week to two drinks per day) had a 14% lower risk of death than abstainers during the study period. However, more in-depth research shows that the quality of the research linking moderate drinking to health benefits is low.

"Better studies tend to show no benefits from alcohol, while studies with more scientific limitations tend to show benefits," Nano said. "This means we may be underestimating the risks of drinking, and in terms of health, drinking less is better."

He also elaborated on why the belief that moderate drinking is beneficial persists despite overwhelming evidence that moderate drinking can cause some health harms, including an increased risk of certain cancers.

"The concept that alcohol might be good for you is really appealing, right? So because it's interesting, we prefer to read studies that show it's also good for our health," he said.

In fact, the idea that moderate drinking leads to a longer, healthier life actually goes back decades. For example, the "French Paradox" was an idea popular in the 1990s, claiming that red wine explains why the French have relatively low rates of heart disease despite a rich, fat-laden diet.

However, this study highlights the importance of understanding the true relationship between alcohol consumption and health risks and the need for better study designs in future studies.

Many existing studies are observational rather than randomized, which introduces bias that can skew the results.

"Most observational studies do not recruit participants until later in life. People who continue to drink alcohol in old age tend to be very healthy, and those who develop alcohol problems or other health problems are not included," Nano noted. "This can lead to biased samples and inaccurate conclusions."

Whitney Linsenmeyer, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said the findings were unexpected.

"This finding is a surprising departure from the long-held belief that moderate alcohol consumption [up to 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men] can benefit our health," she said. "It is curious how in a culture like France, where alcohol is a staple of the diet, people can still maintain a relatively healthy population. This emphasizes the importance of evaluating the diet as a whole rather than focusing on one specific element."

When it comes to public health guidance, the study is consistent with the stance of major health organizations, which have lowered recommended drinking limits in recent years.

Linsenmeier noted that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend that women limit alcohol intake to 1 drink or less per day and men limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks or less per day.

The DGA is updated every five years based on the latest science, and the 2025-2030 DGA is currently being developed by an advisory committee.

Two expert panels independent of the DGA advisory committee are also reviewing the latest research on alcohol and health. Their findings will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to inform the next set of DGAs.

“That’s how good science works—it changes over time,” Linsenmaier said. "We currently have DGAs, but the science of alcohol has been evolving rapidly over the past few years, and the next set of DGAs will reflect this newer science."

"In heavy-drinking countries such as France, the UK and the Netherlands, drinking recommendations have actually declined," Nami points out.

In January 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) also issued an updated statement stating that drinking alcohol at any level is safe for your health. "The good news is that, in fact, from a scientific point of view and from a public point of view, the idea that low-concentration alcohol is good for the body has really been weakened a lot," Nano added.

Linsenmeier offers some practical advice for those who enjoy drinking every day.

She said: "My advice is to definitely enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your meal and remember that drinking in moderation is vital to our health. There are many other foods or nutrients in our diet." Go for pleasure, not for health. Enjoying a good meal or drink in moderation can be part of a balanced lifestyle, but the overall impact on your health must be noted.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)