Is alcohol really good for health?

Several observational follow-up studies about cardiovascular health have found an overlap between moderate drinking and lower mortality from coronary heart disease and other causes. However, such studies have serious methodological limitations. Most non-drinkers were in fact ex-drinkers, that is, people who had had to stop drinking for health reasons. Other variables that may play a decisive role in cardiovascular risk, such as tobacco smoking, exercise and body mass index, were not evaluated, and changes in drinking habits were not assessed periodically. Due to the methodological limitations of these studies, the findings suggest a statistical association but not a causality relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk of mortality. Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that excessive drinking can cause not only cardiovascular diseases--such as hypertension, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy and stroke--but also other medical and psychiatric disorders. Alcohol clearly has addictive properties that can contribute to the development of heavy drinking in some people, leading to alcohol-related physical and mental disorders. The public health message should emphasize the potential risk of heavy drinking rather than promote the possible benefits of moderate consumption. A simplistic message that alcohol is good for cardiovascular health may be prejudicial when stated outside the context of the possible adverse consequences of heavy drinking.