Here's how much alcohol you can drink before it starts harming your health, according to new research
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We all know that drinking alcohol can have some pretty serious consequences. But did you know that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can also have an impact on your health?
That's right, alcohol intake should be limited as it has health consequences. And, while we all know that drinking too much can lead to liver damage, cancer and other health problems, moderate drinking can still have some major impacts on your health.
According to a new study in the journal, Lancet, consuming small amounts of alcohol can increase your risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Senior author Emmanuela Gakidou, a Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington, explained: 'Those diseases just happen to be major causes of death in a good chunk of the world.'
'So when you look at the cumulative health impact, particularly among older adults, it shows that a small amount is actually better for you than no drinking. For all other causes, it’s harmful at all levels of consumption.'
'Alcohol guidelines, both global ones and national ones have typically emphasised the difference between consumption level for men compared to women.'
'What our work suggests is that global guidelines, national guidelines and local guidelines would be more effective if they emphasise age as opposed to sex.'
A new study suggested that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can immensely impact your health. Credit: 7news.com.au.
According to Amanda Berger, Vice President of Science and Health for the business association Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the findings highlight 'the importance of alcohol guidelines that are tailored to individual regions and populations’.
In fact, the study discovered no preventive impact for conditions like pancreatitis, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, liver disease, pancreatitis, TB, and many types of cancer.
'Importantly, no one should drink alcohol to obtain potential health benefits, and some individuals should not drink at all,' she added.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is allegedly the first analysis to report alcohol risk by global geographic location, age, sex, and year.
The study made use of 30 years worth of data collected from individuals aged 15 to 95 from 204 nations and territories.
Additionally, the Institute ensured the accuracy of the data by collaborating with its Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study unit, which records early death and disability from more than 300 diseases.
According to the study, 1.34 billion people worldwide drank alcohol at unhealthy levels in 2020. More than 59 per cent of those who consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol were between the ages of 15 and 39. Men made up more than two-thirds.
The research also revealed that alcohol use has no health benefits for those under the age of 40 in any region, but it does increase the chance of accidents involving vehicles, suicide attempts, and homicide.
The researchers suggested that a standard drink should only contain 10g of pure alcohol — the equivalent of a small 100ml glass of red wine, a standard 355ml can or bottle of beer (3.5 per cent alcohol), or a 30ml shot of spirits that has 40 per cent alcohol by volume.
Researchers said that alcohol drinkers should only consume the ‘standard’ amount of alcohol if they want to keep themselves healthy. Credit: Konstantin Postumitenko/CNN.
However, not all experts were pleased with the study even though many praised it for being 'well-conducted'.
Researchers who did not participate in the analysis voiced their concerns over the study's methodology.
Colin Angus, a senior research fellow at the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group at the University of Sheffield in the UK raised the inconsistencies with the statistics, claiming that there are 'over 14 times as many alcohol-attributable deaths in the UK among 70-74 year-olds than 20-24-year-olds.'
'The data contradicts the assertion in this new study that we should focus on the drinking of younger age groups.'
Dr Tony Rao, a visiting clinical research fellow at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience also offered his thoughts about the study.
He said: 'The elephant in the room with this study is the interpretation of risk based on outcomes for cardiovascular disease - particularly in older people.'
'We know that any purported health benefits from alcohol on the heart and circulation are balanced out by the increased risk from other conditions such as cancer, liver disease and mental disorders such as depression and dementia.'
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has, however, responded to these criticisms, explaining that it conducted a 'more detailed and nuanced analysis of 21 different world regions' to support the previous report that they published last 2016.
Dr Gakidou explained: 'What we have done in this new study is a more detailed and nuanced analysis of 21 different world regions.'
'What we’ve been able to do now is break it down: Who is alcohol harmful to? Who is alcohol beneficial to? That’s why the message is coming across as different, but it is actually consistent with what we said before.'
'If you ask me, “Will the message be different in 10 years?” Maybe. It is likely new evidence will come out. That may change our thinking.'
Regardless, the study proved that we should limit our alcohol consumption if we want a higher chance of living longer..
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think more people should follow the suggested 'standard' drinking amount of alcohol? Do you think it’s an issue? Share your insights with us in the comments below!
That's right, alcohol intake should be limited as it has health consequences. And, while we all know that drinking too much can lead to liver damage, cancer and other health problems, moderate drinking can still have some major impacts on your health.
According to a new study in the journal, Lancet, consuming small amounts of alcohol can increase your risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Senior author Emmanuela Gakidou, a Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington, explained: 'Those diseases just happen to be major causes of death in a good chunk of the world.'
'So when you look at the cumulative health impact, particularly among older adults, it shows that a small amount is actually better for you than no drinking. For all other causes, it’s harmful at all levels of consumption.'
'Alcohol guidelines, both global ones and national ones have typically emphasised the difference between consumption level for men compared to women.'
'What our work suggests is that global guidelines, national guidelines and local guidelines would be more effective if they emphasise age as opposed to sex.'
A new study suggested that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can immensely impact your health. Credit: 7news.com.au.
According to Amanda Berger, Vice President of Science and Health for the business association Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the findings highlight 'the importance of alcohol guidelines that are tailored to individual regions and populations’.
In fact, the study discovered no preventive impact for conditions like pancreatitis, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, liver disease, pancreatitis, TB, and many types of cancer.
'Importantly, no one should drink alcohol to obtain potential health benefits, and some individuals should not drink at all,' she added.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is allegedly the first analysis to report alcohol risk by global geographic location, age, sex, and year.
The study made use of 30 years worth of data collected from individuals aged 15 to 95 from 204 nations and territories.
Additionally, the Institute ensured the accuracy of the data by collaborating with its Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study unit, which records early death and disability from more than 300 diseases.
According to the study, 1.34 billion people worldwide drank alcohol at unhealthy levels in 2020. More than 59 per cent of those who consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol were between the ages of 15 and 39. Men made up more than two-thirds.
The research also revealed that alcohol use has no health benefits for those under the age of 40 in any region, but it does increase the chance of accidents involving vehicles, suicide attempts, and homicide.
The researchers suggested that a standard drink should only contain 10g of pure alcohol — the equivalent of a small 100ml glass of red wine, a standard 355ml can or bottle of beer (3.5 per cent alcohol), or a 30ml shot of spirits that has 40 per cent alcohol by volume.
Researchers said that alcohol drinkers should only consume the ‘standard’ amount of alcohol if they want to keep themselves healthy. Credit: Konstantin Postumitenko/CNN.
However, not all experts were pleased with the study even though many praised it for being 'well-conducted'.
Researchers who did not participate in the analysis voiced their concerns over the study's methodology.
Colin Angus, a senior research fellow at the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group at the University of Sheffield in the UK raised the inconsistencies with the statistics, claiming that there are 'over 14 times as many alcohol-attributable deaths in the UK among 70-74 year-olds than 20-24-year-olds.'
'The data contradicts the assertion in this new study that we should focus on the drinking of younger age groups.'
Dr Tony Rao, a visiting clinical research fellow at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience also offered his thoughts about the study.
He said: 'The elephant in the room with this study is the interpretation of risk based on outcomes for cardiovascular disease - particularly in older people.'
'We know that any purported health benefits from alcohol on the heart and circulation are balanced out by the increased risk from other conditions such as cancer, liver disease and mental disorders such as depression and dementia.'
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has, however, responded to these criticisms, explaining that it conducted a 'more detailed and nuanced analysis of 21 different world regions' to support the previous report that they published last 2016.
Dr Gakidou explained: 'What we have done in this new study is a more detailed and nuanced analysis of 21 different world regions.'
'What we’ve been able to do now is break it down: Who is alcohol harmful to? Who is alcohol beneficial to? That’s why the message is coming across as different, but it is actually consistent with what we said before.'
'If you ask me, “Will the message be different in 10 years?” Maybe. It is likely new evidence will come out. That may change our thinking.'
Regardless, the study proved that we should limit our alcohol consumption if we want a higher chance of living longer..
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think more people should follow the suggested 'standard' drinking amount of alcohol? Do you think it’s an issue? Share your insights with us in the comments below!
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