Even one drink a day is harmful.
A new federal report has linked even one alcoholic drink a day to various negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of liver cirrhosis, several types of cancer, and injuries, though it also showed a lower risk of ischemic stroke. However, this protective effect is offset by occasional binge drinking. Experts now suggest that the idea of consuming one drink per day to live a healthier, longer life is misleading, as there appears to be no amount of alcohol consumption that is completely free of health risks.
This report, released by a group within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the second government report on alcohol consumption. A previous report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found moderate drinking linked to a reduced risk of death from heart disease and other causes, but also a higher risk of breast cancer. Both reports were commissioned ahead of an update to federal dietary guidelines, which could include new recommendations on alcohol use.
Keith Humphreys, a psychiatry professor at Stanford University, argued that the current guidelines recommending one drink per day for women and two for men should be re-evaluated. He stressed that no level of alcohol consumption seems entirely safe and that drinking for health benefits is not advisable. This view was echoed by experts like Dr. Ahmed Tawakol, who cautioned that alcohol should not be consumed for health purposes, as there are other ways to improve health without drinking.
The new report also revealed that drinking more than seven drinks a week significantly increases the risk of death, with alcohol-related deaths rising among teenagers and young adults, mainly due to car accidents and injuries. It also highlighted an association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of seven different types of cancer. This has led to calls for alcoholic beverages to carry cancer risk warning labels, as emphasized by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
The findings from both reports will be used to finalize the updated dietary guidelines later this year. Experts like Jane Figueiredo emphasize that the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption must be considered in the broader context of overall health and well-being.
