Scientists say flaws in previous research mean health benefits from alcohol were exaggerated
Scientists found most previous studies did not take into account that some non-drinkers had cut down or quit through ill health.Scientists found most previous studies did not take into account that some non-drinkers had cut down or quit through ill health.For the regular boozer it is a source of great comfort: the fat pile of studies that say a daily tipple is better for a longer life than avoiding alcohol completely.
Scientists in Canada delved into 107 published studies on people’s drinking habits and how long they lived. In most cases, they found that drinkers were compared with people who abstained or consumed very little alcohol, without taking into account that some had cut down or quit through ill health. “The idea has impacted national drinking guidelines, estimates of alcohol’s burden of disease worldwide and has been an impediment to effective policymaking on alcohol and public health,” he added. Details are published in the, where death rates are lowest among those who drink a little.
“Estimates of the health benefits from alcohol have been exaggerated while its harms have been underestimated in most previous studies,” Stockwell said.
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