A few drinks have negative health impact (first they came for smokers, then over weight people...)

A few drinks have negative health impact


LUND, Sweden, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Swedish researchers are calling into question the assumption that low alcohol consumption is good for health.

The study, published in the journal Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, found with the exception of people age 80 and older -- men who consumed up to five units of alcohol a day and women who consumed up to 2.5 units a day cost the health service more than those who do not drink.

The study also questions the untested theory that people with low alcohol intake are more highly paid because the protective effect of alcohol on some diseases allows them to spend more time at work, the researchers say.

"In this study, however, we found that, when including also those diseases where low consumption increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, low-to-moderate alcohol intake actually has a net negative health impact," study leader Johan Jarl of Lund University in Sweden says in a statement. "It is therefore doubtful if the common explanation of health as the link between alcohol consumption and increased wages is valid in its existing form."

The study was based on alcohol-related medical care costs and episodes collected during the Swedish Cost of Alcohol Project in 2002.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/10/26/A-few-drinks-have-negative-health-impact/UPI-19141256573692/

Science is sometimes like the weather in Ohio - wait awhile and it changes. Wait longer, and it changes back.

Perhaps it leads to more alcohol usage...I really don't know the stats on this but I am just wondering...

across the state line a couple afternoon's a week. Its a place where "everybody knows your name" and it couldn't possibly be a more comfortable abode. Most of the clientele (in the afternoon's) are guys in their 60's and 70's and a couple in their 80's and all of them are heavy drinkers. That's my evidence on the subject.

Of course after 'a few' you all take cabs home. My wife and I think we have lost over 15 friends to alcohol in the last 10 years. Madison Av sure can make drinking look cool and smart but all players in the drug / alcohol biz are looking at the bottom line which is only improved by increased sales. Weed is a lot safer recreational combustible than alcohol.

If you're igniting your alcohol, you're doing it wrong.

Nobody is coming for either smokers or over weight people. Talk about another scare monger...:shrug:

The OP suffers from a case of the martyrs.

is not someone "coming for the drinkers". In fact, I don't recall anyone coming for smokers or overweight people either. Comparing health studies to Nazism minimizes the terrible evils committed by the real Nazis.

Don't be so paranoid. Have a drink, maybe it'll calm you down.

Cause if you were born, you're gonna DIE!

What does a study about the health impact of alcohol have to do with the systematic slaughter of millions?

you pry my axe out of your skull with your cold, dead hands.

Vino è la vita.

It tried to suggest that efforts to limit smoking are oppressive.

I do not wish to be oppressed by others' smoke. I do not want my health threatened by the smoke to which others first subject their own lungs then blow out into the air that I breathe.

The article reports on a study weighing in on the net health impacts of drinking alcohol -- and in no way suggests any move to ban drinking alcohol.

People tend to find reasons to limit choice - and they will tie it to health care and costs. In other words, money for insurance companies will drive others to limit what you can do, when, and where. All in the name of stock prices and cutting costs.

Ban smoking in grocery stores, hospitals, other places people need to go. But no one needs to go to a bar, no one forces anyone to go to one, so why impose our beliefs on others in such places?

Your body, your choice.

I wasn't aware that the dangers of second hand smoke were merely a belief...

no one gave him "a choice" in the matter.

... "moderate" drinking. Perhaps Swedes drink more.

is a real cheapskate.

"Units" is a UK/Euroism that means 10 ml (about a third
of an ounce) of alcohol. So your glass of wine or beer
contains two to three units, on average.

Tesha

A unit of alcohol is 10 ml is 100% PURE alcohol.

1 beer has 1 unit
1 glass of wine has 1 unit
1 shot has 1 unit
1 mixed drink has 1 unit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_of_alcohol

No, 1 beer does not have one unit. You should probably actually read through the link you provided lol.

quoted:
A half pint (284 ml) of ordinary strength (3.5-4% abv) beer contains about one unit.
A small glass (125 ml) of 8% abv wine contains one unit of alcohol.
A small glass (50 ml) of sherry, fortified wine, or cream liqueur (approx. 20% abv) contains about one unit.
Most spirits sold in the UK have 40% abv or slightly less. A single pub measure (about 25 ml) of such a spirit contains one unit.

Hmm 1 beer = 1 glass wine = 1 small glass of sherry = 1 shot = 1 unit.

Now are there stronger beers? Of course. Hell there is Bicardi 151 and Everclear also. However most beers, winds, liquors, and spirits are 1 unit per serving.

Beers

* A half pint (284 ml) of ordinary strength (3.5-4% abv) beer contains about one unit. However, some beers are stronger. In pubs, beers generally range from 4% to 5.5% abv with continental lagers starting at around 5% abv. A pint of such lager (568 ml at 5.2% for example) is almost 3 units of alcohol, rather than the often-quoted value of 2 units per pint.
* A 500 ml can/bottle of standard lager (5%) contains 2.5 units.
* 'Super-strength' or strong pale lager may contain as much as two units per half pint.
* One litre of typical Oktoberfest beer (5.5% to 6%) contains 5.5 to 6 units of alcohol.

Wines

* A small glass (125 ml) of 8% abv wine contains one unit of alcohol. However, British pubs and restaurants usually supply larger quantities (medium: 175 ml or large: 250 ml), and few wines are as weak as 8%; 12% is more typical. A standard pub measure (medium glass - 175 ml) of white wine (at 12%) contains around 2 units and a large glass (250 ml) contains 3 units. Red wine, which usually has a higher alcohol content (up to 16%), contains for an average 14% abv an alcohol content of 3.5 units for a large (250 ml glass), approximately one-sixth higher than a typical white wine. Just two bottles of 14% abv red wine a week will supply the maximum intake of alcohol for a man recommended by UK health guidelines.
* A 750 ml bottle of 12% wine contains 9 units. Many wines may contain 14% abv or more, which is just over 10 units of alcohol per bottle.

Fortified wines

* A small glass (50 ml) of sherry, fortified wine, or cream liqueur (approx. 20% abv) contains about one unit.

Spirits

* Most spirits sold in the UK have 40% abv or slightly less. A single pub measure (about 25 ml) of such a spirit contains one unit. However, a larger single measure of 35 ml is now often sold, resulting in the consumption of 1.4 units of alcohol.

Alcopops

* Most alcopops contain 1.4 to 1.5 units per bottle. For example, a regular 275ml bottle of WKD contains 1.4 units<5>, whereas Bacardi Breezer and Smirnoff Ice both contain 1.5 units of alcohol<6>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since when is a half pint equal to one beer? Sounds like a beer is more like 2 or more units to me. And what about lagers (quite common)? Oh, does it say right there that they are about 2.5 units? And what about wine? Wait, let me look... Ohhhhhhhh, it says that most average glasses of wine are much larger and not nearly as weak, so the average glass is more like 2-3.5 units? Ohhhhhhhhhhh, ok then.

:dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce:

I'm recovered 20 years and teach servers how to encourage responsible drinking. Are you trying to awkwardly say next they will come for he drunks? Sorry but I fail to see any logic that your subject line states.

It will just feel that way.

My thinking always was a glass of wine (good for the heart) with a meal is what health officials consider a light drinking not a six pack.

In related news light smoking of 3 packs a day, everyday is dangerous.

As a woman, I'm a light drinker if I have as much as 2.5 drinks a day? I'm sorry, but I couldn't function if I drank that much. My idea of light drinking is a beer every month or so.

Having said that, 35 units a week is too much; the
current recommendation is no more than 21 units/
week (and, I think, no more than 4 units/day).

Tesha

So 5 units = 5 beers, or 5 glasses of wine, or 5 shots, or 5 mixed drinks.

In each instance the amount of pure alcohol is approximately the same.

Don't drink pisswater beer! ;-)

Tesha

5 units is likely 2 beers. Holy cow get a clue.

For most people, five drinks is probably considered binge drinking, or close to it.

Moderate alcohol consumption is correlated with higher pay because going out drinking with the boss is a good career move.

keep that in mind before taking into consideration what their findings are. there are entrenched interests, social, economic, governmental, etc. to make things stricter. it's an interesting history which definitely colors their policy making and research (hey, nothing exists in a vacuum! :D).

The study "calls into question the assumption that low alcohol consumption is good for health," and cites statistics for people who have up to five drinks a day, which includes five drinks a day.

because of the medication i take for chronic pain, it's a big no-no.

Blacking out every day by noon, I suppose.