Trust your judgment on alcohol, not these contradictory reports

RESULTS of a new, landmark study hit the headlines last week when we were told: no amount of alcohol consumption is safe.

The research, published in esteemed journal The Lancet, found that despite the small protective effect of moderate drinking against heart disease, the overwhelming risks of cancer and other diseases outweighs any small potential benefit.

This may seem confusing given that earlier this year a different paper suggested that teetotallers were more at risk of heart attacks and dementia than anyone else. But of course teetotallers may avoid alcohol due to existing health problems that add to their risks. It is not simple.

Similarly, a report this week associated the use of e-cigarettes with heart attacks. I would be wary at this stage of this conclusion too – most ‘vapers’ are life-long smokers who are trying to cut down. Their increased health risks are not the result simply of e-cigarettes, but decades of smoking tobacco.

Like anything, the only way to assess if your habits are unhealthy is to be honest with yourself and your GP.

If you like an occasional small glass of wine with dinner – enjoy.

We have known for a long time that the risks of alcohol increase the more you drink. If you’re polishing off half a bottle of wine most nights, you should try to cut down. But then again, you don’t need a scientific study to tell you that.