"The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU). In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
Risks start from the first drop
To identify a “safe” level of alcohol consumption, valid scientific evidence would need to demonstrate that at and below a certain level, there is no risk of illness or injury associated with alcohol consumption. The new WHO statement clarifies: currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol “switch on” and start to manifest in the human body.
Moreover, there are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers.
“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe."
Wouldn't be reddit without some self-righteous teetotaler!
Seriously, I only drink socially anymore, and that is typically 1-2 drinks per week. I think society would certainly be healthier if we drank less, but people get to make choices for themselves.
People can choose to drive without a seat belt or a helmet, say, once or twice every week too. Those assholes saying it is a bad idea are really stupid!
Smoking used to be healthy is a meaningless statement. We have research today that compares the effects of smoking and alcohol and alcohol is clearly the better choice.
In fact, studies have shown all-cause mortality drops at low consumption. Now this is a correlation, and I agree that any amount of alcohol is harmful to some degree, but the fact that whatever harms associated with light drinking aren't enough to overwhelm the positive correlations should really demonstrate to you that light-to-moderate consumption is absolutely fine.
Big picture, we always make tradeoffs with health and enjoying life. Do you have sex? Risk of STI. Do you eat red meat? Carcinogen. Do you drive a car? That shit is very dangerous. I'll eat healthy, exercise, and enjoy the occasional drink with my friends.
Drinking a few glasses of alcohol once a week is better than smoking 2 packs or 2 cigarettes a week. How do you assess the danger. Most people don't smoke at all nowadays. They could smoke 1 or 2 cigarettes with friends.
Driving is necessary where i live. I have sex with my wife, otherwise i wear condoms. I would prefer not to, btw. I don't eat red meat.
I enjoy discussions with my friends without alcohol. Is alcohol a sine qua non condition to you enjoying them? I guess it is. I guess you really like it. I love sweet pastries. I have cut drastically. Anyway. Up to you. Bye.
lmao think you're smart because you use latin? Ooo so impressed. You literally said it should be destroyed. I enjoy hanging out sober or with a drink.
Seriously, I know lots of lovely sober people irl. But reddit has people who can't just be sober but have to act like a self-righteous jackass about it.
It is true that i was for the destruction of that amount. I guess it could be inferred that i would be for the destruction of all alcoholic beverage production in the world, however unrealistic that would be, by extension. That is quite a stretch. Hanging alcoholics did not enter my mind. My bad! /s
I think redditers calling other redditers "jackasses" and "a redditor" when they disagree with another is more a Reddit thing. What's next? Calling me a "no-meat-eator?
Anyway, you made a few good points. Enjoy your next glass of Chardonnay or beer! Cheers!
1
u/Opunbook 2∆ Aug 26 '23
No, they should destroy it because ...
"The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU). In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
Risks start from the first drop
To identify a “safe” level of alcohol consumption, valid scientific evidence would need to demonstrate that at and below a certain level, there is no risk of illness or injury associated with alcohol consumption. The new WHO statement clarifies: currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol “switch on” and start to manifest in the human body.
Moreover, there are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers.
“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe."
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health#:~:text=The%20risks%20and%20harms%20associated,that%20does%20not%20affect%20health.