This is a real bummer.
As it turns out, drinking just one alcoholic drink a day – whether it’s a pint of beer, a glass of wine or a shot of your favourite spirit – can shorten your lifespan by around two and a half months, one expert claims.
Dr Tim Stockwell of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research told the Daily Mail that people who drink significantly more alcohol — about 35 drinks a week — could shorten their lifespan by as much as two years.
It’s an unpleasant surprise for those who want to relax with a glass of pinot after a long day, or for those who regularly go to happy hour with friends or colleagues.
“Alcohol is our favorite recreational drug. We use it for fun and relaxation, and the last thing we want to hear is that it causes harm,” he said. “It’s comforting to think that drinking is good for our health, but unfortunately it’s based on bad science.”
Unfortunately, according to the doctor, no amount of alcohol is safe for alcoholics. His claims are backed by science.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent research has shown that alcohol consumption may increase the risk of certain health problems, including cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease and more.
According to the CDC, more than 20,000 people die each year in the US from alcohol-related cancers. “Moderate” drinking here is defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Last year, Ireland became the first country to pass a bill requiring health warnings on alcohol bottles. Canada revised its health guidelines, recommending no more than two drinks per week.
Stockwell’s own research has shown a link between alcohol consumption and death from all causes, which contradicts the widespread belief that a little bit of drinking can be good for your health.
Although it has long been thought that drinking red wine in moderation is good for the heart, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, research has shown that the opposite is true.
“Being able to drink is a sign that you’re still healthy, not the reason you’re healthy,” Stockwell said. “There are lots of ways that these studies are giving you false results that are being misinterpreted as alcohol being good for you.”