02 Feb 2025 Demon drink: the enjoyment vs risk
The science and narrative around alcohol is increasingly demonising one of mankind’s most popular, and damaging, pleasures…
The start of the new year, as well as campaigns like Dry January, prompt many of us to reconsider our drinking patterns and relationship with alcohol.
US dietary guidelines are due to be updated this year, and this has seen the debate over alcohol consumption recommendations kick into high gear, as has a new report from the US Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy.
His new Surgeon General Advisory on Jan 3, 2025, warns about the link between alcohol and cancer. It highlights the evidence and includes a call for new cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages.
These trends, along with the eschewing of alcohol by younger generations, will give the alcoholic beverage sector much pause for thought, as harbingers of both threat and opportunity.
An article in The Economist, however, puts some great perspective to this – here is the gist of it:
As the new year begins, many find themselves nursing a hangover and vowing to reduce their alcohol intake. Alcohol Change UK initiated its “Dry January” campaign over ten years ago, predicting that one in three British men will attempt to participate this year.
In the US, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is also advocating for reduced alcohol consumption. He has suggested that warnings be placed on alcoholic beverages to emphasise the increased risk of certain cancers, such as breast and bowel cancer. Should this be implemented, the US would join South Korea and Ireland in mandating such labels.
The negative health effects of excessive drinking are well-documented, with links to heart disease, liver issues, stroke, and obesity. Individuals who consume large amounts of alcohol are more likely to engage in fights or accidents.
Moreover, alcohol addiction is a significant issue, contributing to approximately one in twenty global deaths, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO). The association between alcohol and cancer, however, is less widely acknowledged. According to Dr Murthy, women who drink occasionally face a 16.5% lifetime risk for various common cancers, while those consuming one drink daily—the advised maximum—face a risk of about 19%.
As the evidence surrounding alcohol’s dangers mounts, public health messaging has grown increasingly alarming.
The WHO asserts that there is “no safe level” of alcohol consumption, while US guidelines advise non-drinkers against starting for any reason. In a shift, Canada recently recommended a limit of two drinks per week for maintaining a “low risk” status, down from previous guidelines of 15 drinks per week for men and 10 for women.
While this perspective is sobering, overly stringent guidelines may backfire. If the WHO’s stance suggests that even a sip of communion wine is unsafe, it might lead the public to question other health recommendations.
There is broad consensus that heavy drinking is harmful, but the discussion surrounding light drinking is more nuanced.
In December, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the US found, with “moderate certainty,” that moderate drinking—up to two beers for men and one for women—could offer benefits that outweigh the risks, particularly for heart health, although these benefits diminish with higher consumption.
Some researchers view the advantages of light drinking as potentially misleading. Nonetheless, even if the WHO is correct in stating that no level of alcohol is entirely safe, this represents only part of the broader picture.
Risks accompany nearly all activities, from flying to dating. Walking is generally beneficial, yet in 2022, around 7,500 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in the US.
Individuals tend to weigh the risks of activities against their benefits. Today, any suggestion that drinking might have advantages appears controversial. Still, many enjoy the taste of beer or wine, appreciate the social aspects of drinking, and partake in the rituals surrounding it.
This enjoyment contributes to the staggering $1.8 trillion global expenditure on alcohol annually. These pleasurable experiences should be considered alongside the tangible harms.
In terms of perspective, Canada’s new recommendations classify “low risk” as a one-in-1,000 chance of premature death related to alcohol. Increasing consumption from two to six drinks weekly raises this risk to one in 100. Comparatively, the lifetime risk of being struck by a vehicle while walking in the US is about one in 470.
Looking ahead to 2025, it is widely agreed that heavy drinkers should consider reducing their intake. The common practice of consuming half a bottle of wine with dinner may warrant reevaluation for most.
However, enjoying a couple of pints with friends occasionally may be worth the minimal risk, traded for warmth and companionship, particularly during the chilly month of January.
Source: The Economist