Decades of conflicting reports seem to have finally resolved into a clear, buzz-killing picture, while yet another study confirms it: No amount of alcohol consumption will protect against disease or extend your lifespan, according to a sweeping review published in late March.
The meta-analysis, printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association, draws on more than a hundred studies involving nearly 5 million people.
The researchers found that just 25 grams a day for women and 45 for men — roughly two and three drinks, respectively — carries a significant health risk.
Tim Stockwell, lead author and professor of psychology at the University of Victoria, recognizes this isn’t welcome news for many casual drinkers.
“It’s our favorite recreational drug,” he says, adding some sobering advice. “Don’t kid yourself that it's going to improve your health. The evidence for that is shakier and shakier as the research piles up.”
