Sorry to say, that glass of wine just isn’t good for you

Sorry to say, that glass of wine just isn’t good for you

What you probably already know: It seems there’s a new study every month that conflicts with the last one about whether drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is good for you, bad for you, which alcohols are better than others, etc. Now, though, nearly all the research is starting to suggest that the drinking alcohol, in general, is not good for you and it gets worse as you get older. A large study that included more than 135,000 people published this week looked at older adults in Britain and found no reduction in heart disease among light or moderate drinkers, and that cancer risks go up.

Why? Researchers say previous studies that found some benefits to drinking contained “serious flaws” mostly because the studies included moderate drinks and people who completely abstained from alcohol. Often, when people abstain, it’s for other health reasons, which may have skewed the results and made occasional drinkers seem healthier overall. Additionally, studies that found red wine was good for you failed to take into account the higher socio-economic situations of people who drink red wine, a factor that correlates much more directly with health outcomes.

What it means: The U.S. is currently considering updates to its Dietary Guidelines, which currently say “drinking less is better for health than drinking more,” and that adults should limit themselves to one drink a day for women, two for men. New guidelines may suggest negative affects from drinking any alcohol, based on the outcomes of this and other recent studies.

What happens now? Young people are drinking less than ever, and many are abstaining completely, while older Americans are drinking more. A Gallup analysis last year found that the rate of drinking among younger adults has dropped by 10 percentage points in the last two decades, from 72% to 62%, and it’s increased by the same amount among older adults. That’s driving sales of non-alcoholic beverages through the roof as young people seek out alternatives without sacrificing the social aspects of alcohol consumption. Sales of non-alcoholic beverages are expected to grow by $500 million this year.