A glass of wine with dinner or a beer after work was long considered a harmless habit — sometimes even called good for the heart. Over the past few years, however, scientists have changed their minds. Modern research shows there is no safe dose of alcohol for health, and drinking even small amounts every day can gradually raise the risk of certain diseases. Here is why doctors have revised their old advice and what we know today about the habit of drinking daily.
Why scientists changed their minds
Early studies in which moderate drinkers appeared healthier than teetotalers later came under criticism. It turned out that the non-drinking group often included people who had quit alcohol after health problems had already appeared. That could make moderate drinking look more beneficial than it really was.
After better research emerged, the conclusions changed. Today the World Health Organization states that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption from a health standpoint.
What happens if you drink every day
The main problem is not so much the amount of alcohol as the regularity. Even small doses of ethanol become a constant burden on the body when consumed daily.
Modern studies link this habit to a gradual rise in the risk of certain cancers, increased strain on the liver, a higher likelihood of high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, and poorer sleep quality. The risk grows over time: the more often and the more a person drinks, the higher it becomes.
The most convincing data concern cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen. Regular consumption is linked to a higher risk of breast, bowel, liver, esophageal, oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers.
What about wine being good for the heart
Just a few decades ago, small amounts of red wine were thought to help protect the heart. Today many specialists believe that effect was overstated. People who drank wine in moderation often led healthier lives, ate better, moved more, and smoked less. Those factors may explain the lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
That is why modern medical advice is getting simpler: the less often a person drinks alcohol, the lower the potential health risks. If someone does not drink, specialists do not recommend starting with wine or beer for supposed heart benefits.
