What level of alcohol is safe?

A daily glass of wine a day has long been said to have health benefits but the latest evidence appears to suggest otherwise.

According to the NHS website, the “previously held position that some level of alcohol was good for the heart has been revised” and “it’s now thought that the evidence on a protective effect from moderate drinking is less strong than previously thought”.

As “new evidence around the health harms from regular drinking” has emerged, the idea of “safe” drinking levels has been replaced by “low risk” alcohol consumption, said the health service.

What is a ‘low risk’ level of drinking?

According to the latest guidelines from the UK Chief Medical Officer, to keep health risks from alcohol at a “low level”, both men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. That is equivalent to “six pints of average strength beer or six medium (175ml) glasses of average strength wine”, said Drinkaware.

The charity recommends having “several drink-free days” each week and avoiding binge drinking. Tips to keep “single occasion drinking” to a “low level” include “drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water”.

Under official guidelines, women who are pregnant or think they may be are advised to avoid alcohol completely, to minimise the potential risk to the baby.  

Does ‘moderate’ drinking have any health benefits? 

Previous research has suggested “there are some health benefits to drinking alcohol in moderation”, including raising “good cholesterol” levels and a lower risk of “all-cause mortality”, said Eating Well.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a moderate intake of alcohol may reduce the risk of developing and dying of heart disease; possibly reduce the risk of ischemic stroke (when the arteries to the brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow); and also possibly reduce the risk of diabetes.

But guidance on what level of alcohol is “safe” has shifted. In 2020, an expert advisory committee of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that the daily advised limit for US men be lowered to one drink, the same as that for women.

What are the dangers of drinking too much?

While experts are divided on the benefits of alcohol, “they are clear on the harm of too much drinking”, said Healthline.

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/science-health/957652/what-level-of-alcohol-is-safe