In brief Stanford Medicine experts argue that the long-held belief in moderate drinking’s health benefits is now considered misleading.
With recent studies linking alcohol to increased cancer risk, researchers stress the importance of public awareness regarding alcohol consumption.
New findings highlight that individual health factors significantly influence alcohol’s effects, prompting calls for reevaluating guidelines on drinking and health.
Whether it’s a glass of red wine with dinner or a celebratory cocktail on the weekend, drinking in moderation has long been considered not only socially acceptable but also perhaps even healthy.
For decades, studies suggested that moderate alcohol intake could protect the heart, reduce diabetes risk or even help you live longer. But newer research tells a different story, and it’s left many people confused.
What’s the truth about moderate drinking? We asked Stanford Medicine experts who study alcohol from different angles – addiction, chronic disease prevention, and molecular. They all agreed on one thing: The idea that moderate, occasional drinking is good for your health is outdated.
“In the past 10 years or so, in my practice, I’ve added alcohol to the list of substances I recommend my patients either reduce or eliminate from their diet,” said Randall Stafford, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and director of the Program on Prevention Outcomes and Practices.
Stafford and his colleagues said the choice to tip back a beer or forgo alcohol – like many lifestyle decisions – should involve weighing the risks and benefits of your behaviors. But they think the public should be made more aware of those risks, which include an increased risk of cancer from drinking moderate amounts of alcohol.
Why alcohol science is so confusing
Decades ago, large surveys of adults began showing an association between how much alcohol someone drank and their risk of death. People who said they drank heavily had an increased risk, but those who drank nothing at all also had an increased risk compared with those who drank one or two servings of alcohol per day.
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