Lancet study: "..the safest level of (alcohol) drinking is none."

[DanT]

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2016 report just published in Lancet included an interesting observational epidemiological study assessing the public health impact of alcohol, which found that the safest level of drinking is none. Here's the conclusion from that report

Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden worldwide, accounting for nearly 10% of global deaths among populations aged 15–49 years, and poses dire ramifications for future population health in the absence of policy action today. The widely held view of the health benefits of alcohol needs revising, particularly as improved methods and analyses continue to show how much alcohol use contributes to global death and disability. Our results show that the safest level of drinking is none. This level is in conflict with most health guidelines, which espouse health benefits associated with consuming up to two drinks per day. Alcohol use contributes to health loss from many causes and exacts its toll across the lifespan, particularly among men. Policies that focus on reducing population-level consumption will be most effective in reducing the health loss from alcohol use.

Here's a link to the BBC report on the study, which has some useful background and commentary: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45283401

And, finally, here are a couple of critical commentaries, one from Cambridge University's David Spiegelhalter discussing the absolute risk associated with moderate drinking and alternative interpretations of the study results: https://medium.com/wintoncentre/the-...n-2ae8cb006a4a
and another from HealthNewsReview reviewing important limitations in observational research: https://www.healthnewsreview.org/201...el-of-alcohol/

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

It's well documented that every person thats lived to be over 100 years old was an alcoholic at one point. They didn't publish that part.

My wife’s grandfather was an alcoholic for 20 plus years before he quit. He’s 88 years old now and in really good health.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

My wife’s grandfather was an alcoholic for 20 plus years before he quit. He’s 88 years old now and in really good health.

Yeah, but how old would he be now if he never drank?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, but how old would he be now if he never drank?

He would have died at 70

[In58men]

I’m here for a good time not a long time.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, but how old would he be now if he never drank?

He also has a full head of hair and no goatee. (Not a Chiefs fan)

[Eleazar]

Duh

[DanT]

Here's an interesting video briefly reviewing some of the evolving scientific literature regarding the supposed "J-shaped" curve, the notion that a moderate amount of alcohol would be beneficial for heart health via its effects on cholesterol levels. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/is-...n-none-at-all/

With better study designs, we sometimes come to changing opinions about what is or isn't bad for our health.

[lawrenceRaider]

My wife and I recently cut out alcohol consumption, entirely in her case, and nearly entirely in mine. I went out for beers with a friend once, and had a friend bring me back beers from England that I've nursed on here and there. Total drinks per week for me is definitely less than one. Biggest bonus is weight loss for us both, hers I'm not sure of, but I dropped 7 lbs without doing anything else differently.

I'm a beer hoarder, so have a bunch of pretty fantastic brews in my beer cellar, and I plan to slowly consume those. Also have some nice bourbons that I need to decide what to do with, and a couple expensive bottles of wine that we'll probably eventually drink. I've pretty well decided though that I will not be purchasing more moving forward. I feel a hell of a lot better in general and am moving weight at the gym that I either haven't since I was much younger, or just haven't at all (PR territory).

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

My wife’s grandfather was an alcoholic for 20 plus years before he quit. He’s 88 years old now and in really good health.

Good genes.

Same thing with my father's side of the family. Everyone lives past 80 no matter how badly they abuse their bodies. Christ, one of his brothers was a 400 pound pill popping drunk and he lived until he was 80.

Meanwhile some health freaks die of massive heart attacks before they're 60.

Genetics, genetics, genetics.

[KranzDictum]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

If you completely cut alcohol from your diet, think about how much more barbecue you could buy.

If you cut out alcohol from your diet you could afford Steak and not have to eat BBQ.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

My wife and I recently cut out alcohol consumption, entirely in her case, and nearly entirely in mine. I went out for beers with a friend once, and had a friend bring me back beers from England that I've nursed on here and there. Total drinks per week for me is definitely less than one. Biggest bonus is weight loss for us both, hers I'm not sure of, but I dropped 7 lbs without doing anything else differently.

I'm a beer hoarder, so have a bunch of pretty fantastic brews in my beer cellar, and I plan to slowly consume those. Also have some nice bourbons that I need to decide what to do with, and a couple expensive bottles of wine that we'll probably eventually drink. I've pretty well decided though that I will not be purchasing more moving forward. I feel a hell of a lot better in general and am moving weight at the gym that I either haven't since I was much younger, or just haven't at all (PR territory).

Reductions like that are expected to be good for your health. My wife doesn't like the taste of alcohol. I like whiskies but, like you, I've only average about 1 drink per week lately and that's almost all been wine or beer with friends. No whiskey. A few weeks ago I bought a bottle of Teeling Small Batch to enjoy with any guests that like whiskey, but so far no takers, so it's sitting unopened at home, next to an unopened Glenfiddich 12. I wouldn't be too surprised if those two bottles make it to deep into the upcoming NFL season.

I've been on a weight-loss kick lately, so cutting way back on alcohol has been very good for my own health, both in avoiding all those calories and also in getting much better sleep. I'm down about 25 pounds and hope to take off another 25 or so in the next few months.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by KranzDictum

If you cut out alcohol from your diet you could afford Steak and not have to eat BBQ.

Yeah, that stuff's expensive. Probably not as crazy-high as cigarettes, but still pretty pricey. I don't see how folks can afford to smoke out here in California. Packs of cigarettes are about $10, with all the taxes.

[TinyEvel]

Literally drinking an O'Doul's as I read this.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by KranzDictum

If you cut out alcohol from your diet you could afford Steak and not have to eat BBQ.

Steak is high on the meat pyramid. I like steak. But BBQ stands alone atop the meat pinnacle.

[Graystoke]

Is Bacon still dangerous?
Asking for a friend