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Scientists describe a “risk continuum” associated with drinking just a few glasses of wine or beer over a seven-day period.
ALCOHOL – Even small amounts of alcohol can have serious health consequences. That’s the conclusion of the Canadian Center on Addiction and Substance Use in its new report published on Tuesday 17 January. It argues that no amount of alcohol is healthy and recommends that the population reduce their consumption as much as possible.
Researchers and scientists use it to describe a “continuum of risk” associated with consuming just a few glasses of wine or beer over a seven-day period.
“Research shows that no amount or type of alcohol is good for your health,” the report said. It doesn’t matter what type of alcohol it is – wine, beer, cider or spirits. Alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is harmful to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, alcohol tolerance or lifestyle. Therefore, if you drink, it is better to drink less. »
The findings mark a significant change from previous Canadian guidelines released in 2011, which recommended women not have more than 10 drinks per week and men no more than 15.
accidents and chronic diseases
Experts who developed the guidelines said the new approach is based on mounting evidence after decades of sometimes conflicting research that even light drinking can have serious effects.
The risk is “low” for people who drink two or fewer drinks per week; “moderate” for those consuming between three and six glasses a week; and “increasingly high” for those who drink seven or more drinks a week, according to the report.
The New York Times recalls that a study published in November 2022 found that excessive alcohol consumption led to about 140,000 deaths per year in the United States between 2015 and 2019. About 40% of these deaths were due to “indirect” causes such as car accidents. However, most have been caused by chronic conditions attributed to alcohol, such as liver disease, cancer and heart disease.
“Drink Less, Live More”
dr Catherine Paradis, associate director of research at the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction, writes in the report that drinking just two drinks a week has been linked to an increased risk of seven types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer. “When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that is not harmful to health,” she argues.
The scientists responsible for this study hope the results will encourage consumers to make healthier choices. “We have this slogan: drink less, live more,” said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, Director General of the Center. The idea is that any reduction in alcohol consumption significantly reduces your risk. »
In France, Public Health France recommends a maximum of ten glasses per week, two glasses per day and days of non-consumption per week. According to the results of their last barometer from 2017, almost a quarter of French people aged 18 to 75 exceed at least one of the three benchmarks.
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