Study Warns That Even Low-risk Alcohol Consumption May Have Grave Consequences

Excessive alcohol has been related to the development of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, liver disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and various cancers. Ailments such as weakened immune systems, memory problems, mental health issues, and social problems are also categorized as long-term health risks of alcoholism.

However, a new study by Canadian scientists determined that even weekly low-risk alcohol consumption may lead to hospitalization and death. Dr. Adam Sherk from the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia said that moderate drinkers 'are not insulated from harm.'

The government's low-risk alcohol consumption guidelines state that a woman should not consume above 10 drinks weekly while men are advised against drinking more than 15. A single drink is equivalent to a 12-oz beer, 1.5 ounces of liquor, or 5 ounces of wine. These guidelines are slightly higher than the limitations in the United States and a few other high-income countries.

Causes of Death

Sherk and his team concluded that in British Columbia, there was a significant number of alcohol-caused death and disability from alcohol consumption at moderate rates. More than 50% of cancer deaths resulting from people drinking within the government guidelines. Also, 38% of alcohol-related deaths were people who drank below the moderate guidelines.

In addition, moderate alcohol consumption within these guidelines offered little protection from death from a heart attack, stroke, and diabetes for several women. The authors wrote that the 'protective effect did not appear to hold for men who experienced harm at all drinking levels.'

The team of scientists used the International Model of Alcohol Harms and Policies (InterMAHP) which estimates alcohol harms in a country or state, in total or in groups. British Columbia was their specific target in this study, analyzing alcohol exposure data from substance use surveys, hospital data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and mortality data from Statistics Canada's Vital Statistics.

The InterMAHP calculates internationally standardized alcohol-attributable fractions (AAFs). They concluded that alcohol is the leading cause of death in Canada, representing 5.5% of all deaths with 79% being men. The various causes of death related to excessive alcohol consumption are cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Less or No Drinking

Sherk suggests that guideline limits should be lowered to match those in the Netherlands. Previously, Dutch health guidelines advised women to drink no more than a glass of alcohol per day and men two glasses. In 2015, the health council revised the recommendations saying that people should abstain completely from alcohol consumption or drink no more than one glass a day.

Minimal alcohol consumption will help ensure a healthy diet as more that one drink increases the risk of getting a stroke or obtaining cancer. The Dutch health council also said that 'the health benefits of drinking wine, for example, do not outweigh the negatives.'

'Don't drink or, if you do, drink no more than one drink per day,' said Sherk. Overall, his best advice for drinking is to stay on the side of caution. 'When it comes to alcohol use, less is better.'