Health From which quantities is alcohol drinking already unhealthy?

The less alcohol, the lower the risk of death

From the results of a recent study in the Lancet (Wood et al., 2018), the authors conclude that a limit on alcohol consumption, taking into account the lowest risk for overall mortality, is 100 g / week. For cardiovascular diseases, with the exception of myocardial infarction, no limit can be stated.

Lower alcohol consumption was always associated with a lower risk of illness. For the study, the data on the alcohol intake of just under 600,000 people was evaluated in relation to the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Data from three large cohort studies (Emerging Risk Factor Collaboration, EPIC-CVD, UK Biobank).

These results are not in conflict with the reference levels for DGE alcohol. It gives as a guideline for a maximum tolerable alcohol intake 10 g / day for healthy women and 20 g / day for healthy men This corresponds to 20 g of alcohol about 0.5 liters of beer, 0.25 liters of wine or 0.06 liters of brandy. However, this information should not be understood as an invitation to consume alcohol daily. However, no amount of alcohol can be given, which can be described as safe for various adverse health effects when consumed regularly.

The German main office for addiction issues states that even with a low-risk consumption at least two non-alcoholic days per week should be kept.