Episode 11: Zero Alcohol - New science challenges current messages on moderation

Drink responsibly and in moderation.A little alcohol is good for our heart.We've heard these messages before. But what if what we've been always told about alcohol is wrong? What if instead of drinking responsibly and in moderation, we shouldn't drink at all?This is what two big new studies published in the Lancet suggest. Our current guidelines are too high - in fact, the safest level of alcohol consumption that minimizes health risks is....zero.In this episode we talk about these new findings and why a message of abstinence aligns with the latest science and is best for our health.LinksNo level of alcohol consumption improves health (Lancet)Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990 - 2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (Lancet)Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies (Lancet)Thresholds for safe alcohol use might need lowering (Lancet) No alcohol level safe to drink, global study confirms (BBC)There is no safe level of alcohol, global study confirms (CTV)Alcohol is a global killer, study finds (NBC News)