A group of researchers from Lund University began studying the effect of alcohol on health from purely practical issues. Scientists have tried to find out what is the difference in the medical costs of those who drink alcohol every day in small doses, and those who do not use it at all. In addition to their own research, they used data from the 2002 project. The project was aimed at obtaining information on alcohol-related losses that Sweden bears each year.
The results of the work done by scientists have shown that the medical expenses of people who do not drink are lower than those who daily consume a small amount of alcohol. Thus, it becomes very doubtful the prevailing view that alcohol in small quantities is good for health.
In the course of previous studies, a link was found between alcohol consumption and the level of wages. Scientists have established that the earnings of people who drink alcohol from time to time are higher than those who do not drink. Then the scientists explained this fact by the fact that alcohol has a beneficial effect on health and people who use it spend less time on the sick-list. However, new data obtained by scientists from Lund University, completely refute this theory. Scientists suggested taking into account in the calculations of the disease, in which drinking alcohol, even in small quantities, can cause serious deterioration of health. This approach dramatically changed the picture and showed that alcohol still does damage to health. Thus, the direct link between higher incomes and alcohol consumption is highly questionable. Perhaps, in some cases, some relationship between these two indicators does exist, but the factors that affect each of these indicators are much larger than those presented in the simplified model of alcohol-income level.
French scientists after a series of studies have also brought a disappointing verdict: the useful properties of small doses of alcohol - a myth. So scientists from France found that there is a connection between the incidence of cancer and the constant use of alcoholic beverages. For example, it was found that a glass of wine drunk daily increases 168% the risk of cancer of the mouth or throat. And it was proved that daily use of a small amount of alcohol is even more harmful than large doses drunk from time to time.
American scientists have determined the effect of the constant use of alcohol on the brain. Studies were conducted among people older than 55 years, in all, about 2800 people took part in it. Subjects were subjected to a thorough medical examination, as well as the amount of tobacco and alcohol they consumed. As a result of their work, scientists have found that even a small intake of alcohol leads to brain atrophy.
Canadian scientists have established that the risk of drinking from people who regularly consume even a very small amount of alcohol is much higher. Such influence the constant use of alcohol renders both on men, and on women, from age it also does not depend.
To more accurately determine the amount of alcohol consumed, the researchers introduced a special unit of measurement, which they called a drink. 1 drink was set equal to 5 ounces (~ 142 g.) Of wine, 1.5 ounces (~ 42 g.) Of liqueur, 12 ounces (~ 340 g.) Of beer and 3 ounces (~ 85 g.) Of port wine. Thus, Canadians found that those who drink rarely, on average, drink no more than two drinks at a time.
The main cause of alcohol consumption themselves Canadians call the desire to cheer up. The main danger of such daily improvement of mood is that alcohol is addictive, which means that to feel the influence of alcohol, a person will need to drink more and more each time. Gradually, the amount of alcohol consumed reaches 4-5 drinks at a time, which inevitably harms health. Accordingly, it can be confidently asserted that it is harmful for a person to regularly consume alcohol even in the most miserable amounts.
According to international studies, a dose of 4 drinks is detrimental to a woman's body. This amount of alcohol has an irreversible effect on the body, even if it was drunk only once.
Also we can not but say about the delusions that are so often heard in our latitudes. Many parents believe that a small number of low-alcohol beverages are not harmful, and can even be useful for young children, especially if the child himself wishes. There is an opinion that children better know what their body needs and if they are drawn to a mug of beer, then, in their body, there is not enough of any useful substances contained in this drink. Also, many believe that by trying a tasteless drink, the child will no longer want to drink it.
However, studies conducted among 6000 families showed that in the future the level of alcoholism among children who consumed even a small amount of alcohol with their parents and with their permission is significantly higher than those who were strictly forbidden from drinking by the parents. According to statistics, children who have tried alcohol in the presence of parents and under the age of 15 are more likely to suffer from alcoholism.
Thus, the verdict is disappointing. Is it often harmful to drink alcohol in small amounts? With regard to alcohol, scientists around the world show surprising unanimity: alcohol is harmful even in small doses.