Alcohol is harmful to health at any dose in young people, but drinking in moderation in the elderly may have beneficial effects, according to a new study.
A new global analysis published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, determined that there are no health benefits associated with drinking alcohol if you are under 40 and that even very small amounts of alcoholic beverages can be harmful. These results corroborate those obtained by another large study, also published by The Lancet in 2018which established that there is no safe amount of alcohol, and the finding that many of the studies that found benefits in moderate alcohol consumption were funded by the alcoholic beverage industry.
However, in science, and especially in the field of health, absolute statements always end up accepting nuances. In fact, the new study by The Lancet confirms the harm caused by alcohol in young people in any amount. But the study’s news is somewhat better for older generations, who may benefit from a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes as a result of moderate alcohol consumption.
Clarifying the alcohol controversy in moderation
In presenting their findings in The Lancet, the researchers sought to address the current controversy over the possible benefits of drinking alcohol. Numerous previous studies have indicated that a glass of wine a day can improve heart health, although these widespread claims have never been categorically proven or disproved.
To resolve the issue, the study authors decided to take a more nuanced look at the available data. Using statistics from the 2020 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, they were able to estimate alcohol consumption levels for people aged 15 and over in 204 countries and territories.
Men between the ages of 15 and 39 are most at risk of consuming alcohol unsafely.
An analysis of the data allowed the researchers to calculate the risks associated with alcohol consumption based on age, sex and geographic location. Thus, they determined that 1,340 million people consumed unsafe amounts of alcohol in 2020, being 76.7% men and 59.1% under 40 years of age.
Men aged between 15 and 39 are most at risk of drinking alcohol unsafely in all regions of the world, with 60% of alcohol-related traffic accidents affecting people in this age group, including traffic accidents, murders and suicides.
According to the analysis, the safe limit for men under 40 is just 0.136 standard drinks per day, and health loss occurs when this limit is exceeded. Women in the same age category can safely drink about twice that amount, with a standard drink equivalent to a small glass of wine, a can of beer, or a single shot of whiskey or other spirits.
The safe limit is to drink less than 0.136 standard drinks a day, about a glass of wine or can of beer a week, twice as much for women.
However, it should be noted that the data do not distinguish between the effects of binge drinking and drinking consistent amounts of alcohol over several days, so more research is needed to determine how specific drinking patterns influence health.
“Our message is simple: young people shouldn’t drink, but older people can benefit from drinking in small amounts,” said study author Dr. Emmanuela Gakidou, in a statement. “While it is unrealistic to think that young adults will refrain from drinking, we believe it is important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health.”
Estimates show that moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits for people over 40 who do not have underlying health problems, particularly in populations with a higher burden of cardiovascular disease. For people aged 40 to 64, safe alcohol consumption ranges from a standard half drink to 1.82 drink per day.
In people between 40 and 64 years old, safe consumption is between the average and 1.82 drinks per day, for those over 65 years old it is up to three drinks per day.
Those over 65, on the other hand, can consume up to three and a half drinks a day without experiencing negative health effects.
“Although the risks associated with alcohol consumption are similar for men and women, young men stood out as the group with the highest level of harmful alcohol use,” said Dr. Gakidou. “This is because a greater proportion of men than women consume alcohol and their average level of consumption is also significantly higher.”
Based on these results, the authors state that alcohol consumption guidelines should be updated to reflect the different levels of risk and benefit associated with age and sex. Stronger interventions, particularly tailored to younger individuals, are needed to reduce the significant overall health loss attributable to alcohol.
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