Date: August 19, 2024
A new study published in the journal JAMA Network Open reveals that even moderate alcohol consumption may pose significant health risks for older adults, challenging the once popular belief that a daily glass of wine or other alcoholic beverages could be beneficial. The study comes as public opinion in the United States increasingly shifts toward viewing alcohol as harmful, particularly among younger generations.
According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly half of Americans (45%) now believe that having one or two alcoholic drinks a day is detrimental to health—the highest percentage recorded since the survey began in 2001. This shift in attitude is most pronounced among younger adults, with 65% of those under 35 considering moderate drinking harmful, compared to 37% of adults aged 35 to 54 and 39% of those aged 55 and older.
The new study, which tracked the health outcomes of over 135,000 adults aged 60 and older, found that even low-risk drinking—defined as up to 10 grams of alcohol daily for women and 20 grams for men—increased the likelihood of cancer-related death by about 10% compared to occasional drinkers. Moderate-risk drinkers faced a 10% to 15% higher risk of death from any cause, including cancer, while high-risk drinkers were about 33% more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, or other causes.
Dr. Timothy Naimi, Director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, emphasized the study’s findings, stating, “Alcohol is a carcinogen and contributes to about 50 different types of death. The less you drink, the better off you are health-wise.” Naimi, who was not involved in the study, underscored the need for public awareness of the health risks associated with alcohol, even at low levels of consumption.
The study’s authors also highlighted disparities in alcohol-related risks based on socioeconomic status and underlying health conditions. Older adults with lower incomes or pre-existing health issues faced more pronounced risks from alcohol consumption. This finding suggests that public health interventions may need to be tailored to address these vulnerabilities.
Interestingly, the study did note some exceptions. Participants who primarily drank wine or consumed alcohol with meals had slightly lower risks of cancer and death, though the researchers caution that these benefits may not stem from alcohol itself but rather from associated lifestyle factors. Dr. Rosario Ortola, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of preventive medicine and public health at Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, suggested that other healthy behaviors, such as physical activity, could be at play among those who drink wine or with meals.
The findings come amid a broader cultural shift, with younger adults increasingly choosing to abstain from alcohol altogether. Nonalcoholic “mocktails” have gained popularity, and social pressure to drink appears to be waning. A Gallup poll from last year found that alcohol consumption among adults under 35 has declined by 10 percentage points over the past two decades, with only 62% of this age group reporting that they drink alcohol.
As the perception of alcohol’s health risks continues to evolve, experts like Naimi warn that it’s crucial to dispel myths about moderate drinking. “Moderate drinking may be a reflection of a healthier lifestyle, but it is not its cause,” Naimi said, stressing the importance of making informed decisions about alcohol consumption, especially as new research increasingly links it to serious health risks.