Should Moderate Alcohol Consumption be Promoted?

Alcoholic beverages contain a variety of phytochemicals, but there is little strong evidence regarding the effects of these substances on health.Alcohol creates many social problems, such as violence and accidents, as well as negative health effects, most notably those related to cancer and fetal alcohol syndrome.Moderate consumption of alcohol is generally defined as two drinks a day for a man or one for a woman. This is associated with significant protective effects against coronary heart disease and several other diseases and health problems.The relationship between alcohol consumption and overall mortality depends on age. Below age 40 alcohol is associated with an increased risk of death. For people older than about 50 or 60 alcohol consumption has a J-shaped relationship with risk of mortality; the lowest risk of death is seen in moderate drinkers. Alcoholic beverages contain a variety of phytochemicals, but there is little strong evidence regarding the effects of these substances on health. Alcohol creates many social problems, such as violence and accidents, as well as negative health effects, most notably those related to cancer and fetal alcohol syndrome. Moderate consumption of alcohol is generally defined as two drinks a day for a man or one for a woman. This is associated with significant protective effects against coronary heart disease and several other diseases and health problems. The relationship between alcohol consumption and overall mortality depends on age. Below age 40 alcohol is associated with an increased risk of death. For people older than about 50 or 60 alcohol consumption has a J-shaped relationship with risk of mortality; the lowest risk of death is seen in moderate drinkers.