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Even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risks of premature death, disability, cancer and heart disease, according to a major new study challenging the longstanding belief that moderate drinking is harmless or beneficial.
Published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the study found no statistically significant overall health benefits from alcohol consumption at any level, with risks increasing as drinking levels rise.
Researchers from the United States and Canada reviewed more than 7,200 scientific studies on alcohol-related diseases and injuries, combining the findings with national health data to estimate the lifetime health risks of drinking.
The analysis found that consuming two alcoholic drinks a day, often considered moderate drinking, was associated with a substantially higher risk of premature death.
Even consumption of seven drinks a week could result in greater overall health risks, as potential cardiovascular benefits were outweighed by increased risks of cancer, liver disease, injuries and other health problems.
“Even low levels of alcohol use come with health risks,” said lead researcher Kevin Shield, an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
Co-author Katherine Keyes, a professor at Columbia University, said the study found no protective effect from drinking, even at low levels.
The researchers said individual risks may vary depending on genetics, lifestyle and drinking patterns. However, they stressed that reducing alcohol consumption could help lower the risk of long-term health complications.