Light Drinking May Not Be As Healthy As Reported

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Contrary to popular belief that taking small amounts of alcohol regularly is good for the health, studies show that this may be a one-way perspective that could open up a can of worms with regards to its benefits or dangers.

This was recently revealed in a research published by the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , where researchers analyzed data from a volume of long-term studies on alcohol and its effects, discovering a bias in the study design that highlighted the benefits of drinking but underestimated the dangers of it.

Research co-author and center director Tim Stockwell, where previous studies have significantly provided little to minimal emphasis on the group of subjects that were defined as abstainers, especially those who completely stopped alcohol consumption.

Many, if not most, of the consolidated research materials on alcohol consumption and addiction failed to focus on people whose health conditions prompted them to cut down or completely abstain from alcohol consumption.

Stockwell noted that based on statistical data from these studies leaning towards the bias, it would manifest that the risks from all levels are much higher compared to what has been estimated, adding that it serves to undermine the safety and health risks from alcohol.

The findings involved in Stockwell’s study were made up of about 4 million participants with 367,103 of which were related to alcohol-related deaths and its causes.

Although Stickwell pointed out that they are not disputing the health benefits, they are more inclined in leaning towards the providing all perspectives that would give the public a well-informed stand on that surround the topic.

One good example is that the benefit claim should not be generalized towards all alcohol products as it could be misleading to consumers, like actual alcohol volume content or ingredients specific to a product that may be harmful even when taken in small amounts.

Separate studies revealed that in many Western countries where chronic diseases are rampant like coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, among others indicate that there were marked improvement in reducing the risk of developing these diseases for those associated with moderate alcohol consumption.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism may lend credence to the study as it has been indicated in their statistical report  that the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption  to health is still a challenge, despite the findings of its positive effects, the volume of consumption may still be debatable and may not benefit everyone who consumes it moderately.

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