Health and cancer risks associated with low levels of alcohol consumption

The World Health Organization published a statement in The Lancet Public Health in January: ‘When it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health’. The authors argue therefore, that alcohol consumers should be objectively informed about the risks of cancer and other health conditions associated with alcohol consumption.

Members of the International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research responded to the article and the subsequent media coverage.
Henk Hendriks said “Another comment appeared in the January issue of the Lancet stating that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption and doubts its beneficial effects at light to moderate levels. It is very unfortunate that this comment puts much emphasis on the relatively small contribution of light and moderate alcohol consumption to some specific cancers whereas the larger contribution to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes is downplayed. The overall effect on health is evident from the association between alcohol consumption and mortality showing a J shape, even with healthy non-drinkers or light drinkers used as a control group. This curve shows a lower relative risk of dying for light to moderate drinkers.
Does this mean that light to moderate alcohol consumption is without any risk at all: no, because what is without any risk in life? Does this mean that all alcohol consumption is bad for your health? No, light to moderate alcohol consumption increases some risks and decreased other risks with an overall beneficial outcome”.
The study was also covered by the New York Times on 14th January, in it’s article ‘Even a Little Alcohol Can Harm Your Health.’
Professor RC Ellison wrote a letter in reply as follows:“I am responding to the article, “Even a Little Alcohol Can Harm Your Health, Research Shows,” from the front page of the Times of January 14. I am afraid that the author presented a very biased view of “a little alcohol.” First, not many people drink “alcohol,” as we drink spirits, wine, or beer. And the health effects of consuming an alcoholic beverage vary according to the type of alcohol and, even more so, to the pattern of drinking. Data clearly demonstrate more harmful effects from binge drinking; more beneficial health effects are associated primarily with the consumption of small amounts on a regular basis and with food. The beneficial health effects tend to be most impressive for wine.
Further, the author of your article did not mention the risk of total mortality associated with drinking. While the dangers of liver disease and certain cancers are clearly increased for heavy drinkers, large cohort studies for decades have almost universally shown that, in comparison with abstainers, people who consume one or two drinks of wine with meals each day with no binge drinking have considerably lower risk not only of heart disease and diabetes (two major health problems throughout the world), but of total mortality. In other words, they live longer than abstainers.
Most people do not drink for the health effects, but the public should be aware that light to moderate consumption of an alcoholic beverage (especially wine) with food tends to be associated with a longer life. We should focus our warnings about “alcohol” to discouraging excessive or inappropriate types of consumption, such as the rapid consumption of drinks on an empty stomach. We should not frighten the majority of “drinkers” who have a drink or two at a time with food, especially if the beverage is a glass of wine with dinner.