“World Health Organization Declares: No Safe Amount of Alcohol”
“No Amount of Alcohol is Safe for Health”
In many parts of the world, events are considered incomplete without alcohol. Some people view drinking as a great way to break the ice with strangers, while others turn to it to celebrate or forget their sorrows.
Past research has suggested that moderate consumption of certain types of alcohol, like red wine, can be beneficial for health. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) now states that drinking alcohol in any amount is unsafe for health.
The BBC World Service program “The Food Chain” examined the risks and benefits associated with alcohol consumption.
Risk of Cancer and Death
According to the WHO, alcohol use leads to approximately 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year. Alcohol consumption is linked to at least seven types of cancer, including cancers of the bowel and breast. A recent comprehensive study by the WHO revealed that even low levels of alcohol consumption are dangerous. This means less than 1.5 liters of wine, 3.5 liters of beer, or 450 milliliters of spirits.
The WHO asserts that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, and risks to health start from the very first sip.
Trends in Alcohol Consumption Decline
Data from the WHO indicates a decline in per capita alcohol consumption worldwide. In 2010, the per capita consumption was 5.7 liters, which decreased to 5.5 liters by 2019. The majority of alcohol drinkers are men, who consume an average of 8.2 liters annually, compared to 2.2 liters for women.
Some individuals, like 44-year-old Anna Tate from Berkshire, UK, are completely giving up alcohol. Tate explains that while she didn’t drink excessively, she regularly consumed beer, gin, and wine every Friday, and she soon realized she was drinking on Thursdays and Sundays as well. After starting marathon training early this year, her coach encouraged her to quit drinking. Both she and her husband have successfully reduced their alcohol intake. Tate feels a significant change in herself, although her friends express disappointment when they learn that she and her husband will not join them in drinking at social gatherings.
Emily Hevenstein, a 22-year-old from Bavaria, Germany, is also trying to quit drinking with the support of her friends. She admits that she used to think she couldn’t have fun without alcohol but dislikes the hangover. “I wanted to stop because it feels awful to wake up on a Sunday and not remember what you did the night before,” she says, and she is very happy with her success.
Are Previous Studies Incorrect?
The experiences of these women clearly indicate many benefits of quitting alcohol. Dr. Tim Stock, affiliated with the University of Victoria in Canada, agrees with the WHO’s warning. He describes alcohol as fundamentally dangerous, stating that its effects start to emerge as soon as you begin to consume it.
Dr. Stock analyzed 107 scientific papers to explore the relationship between low levels of alcohol consumption and mortality. According to the British Medical Journal, if one in a hundred individuals faces a risk of death, it is labeled as moderate risk, while one in a thousand is considered low risk. The acceptable level of alcohol consumption varies from country to country. The British government recommends not consuming more than fourteen units or six medium glasses of wine or beer per week.
Dr. Stock believes that flawed research methodologies led to the argument that low levels of alcohol consumption are beneficial. He points out that these studies often did not ask the right questions and failed to consider whether participants had previously engaged in alcohol consumption. Key factors were overlooked in these studies, such as higher income levels, better nutrition, regular exercise, and access to superior health facilities among those who consumed alcohol in moderation.
Comparing the Benefits and Risks of Alcohol
However, not everyone agrees that the risks associated with alcohol consumption are a cause for concern. Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, struggles to understand the obsession with the potential risks of consuming one or two drinks daily. He explains how risks can be appropriately understood, asserting that there is no safe level for driving or life, yet no one advises against these activities.
“We need to consider both benefits and risks,” he adds. Dr. David is not part of either the alcohol lobby or the opposing movement. He tells the BBC that he drinks moderately and explains why.
He argues that the risk of reduced average life expectancy is about one percent. “If you drink one glass a day for fifty years, that equates to six months of reduced life expectancy, or losing about fifteen minutes of life every day,” he says.
Dr. David notes that watching an hour of TV daily or eating bacon sandwiches twice a week can also be detrimental to health. He believes that adults should decide for themselves what is best for them.
Dr. Tim Stock, who drinks himself, does not urge others to abstain. He suggests that if alcohol brings enjoyment, individuals should find a balance between drinking and the associated small health risks.