C ommenting on today’s Cambridge University Study into the dangers of moderate alcohol consumption, which asserts that as little as one alcoholic drink a day could shorten your life, James Calder, Head of Communications at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said: “This study completely overlooks the well documented health benefits light to moderate enjoyment of alcohol brings.
The incidence of Type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, haemorrhagic stroke, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, macular degeneration and gall bladder disease are just some of the conditions that are lower in sensible drinkers. The mental and social benefits of enjoying alcohol sensibly are also overlooked. We have 40 years of research, which shows light to moderate drinking equals improved cognitive function and memory in ageing as well as reduced chance of vascular dementia. What about the simple, social, improvements to quality of life that being in a pub or taproom with your friends and family regularly brings to our wellbeing?”
“The well known J shaped* relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality shows that with light to moderate consumption, your relative risk of total mortality drops significantly when compared to teetotallers.”
“Sadly we live in an era where those in the temperance and health movements refuse to accept the facts: that sensible alcohol consumption has health benefits and that adults should be informed to make their own choices, not nannied into submission.”
* This particular J-curve is based on 34 prospective epidemiological studies which collected data on how much people drink and then follow them over a period of years.
Credit to Chris Snowdon and The Spectator