This is a safe alcohol amount: Expert explains

'Having a peg or two daily is good for the heart,' ever heard this claim? Those who enjoy alcohol often use it as their excuse for regular indulgence, while abstainers dismiss it, saying that alcohol in any form and quantity is dangerous. A new study conducted in Britain has added fuel to this debate that does not seem to end anytime soon.

What the study says
In a study sponsored by the British Biobank project between 2006 and 2022, researchers collected and analysed health data from more than 3,40,924 individuals over 13 years. The researchers had categorised the consumption level based on the quantity of ethanol. The amount of alcohol in 335 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine and 45 ml of spirit (whiskey, brandy, rum) is the same.

Those who consume less than 25 ml of alcohol a week were categorised as the low alcohol consumption group. Besides, men who drank up to 25 – 50 ml and women who consumed up to 13 – 25 ml alcohol were categorised as moderate alcoholism and anything above these was considered severe alcoholism. So, the study focused on the amount of alcohol rather than the number of pegs consumed by a person. It was clear that all bodies do not process alcohol in the same way. The body structure and the liver’s ability to break down alcohol in both men and women are different.

The findings
The study found out that even a drop of alcohol could severely influence one’s health condition!  Men who consume more than three drinks in a day and women who have more than 1.5 drinks have a greater risk of cancer and heart disease. Meanwhile, the risk of these diseases among those who consumed the same amount of wine was significantly lower.

What is better? Alcohol or wine?
If you ask whether wine is better than alcohol, then science would answer that it doesn’t have enough evidence to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. However, this assumption is merely based on observation rather than scientific evidence. Those who consume wine may enjoy better social and economic status, healthier eating habits, more exercise, and better overall lifestyle habits. So, it is difficult to understand whether the difference is actually influenced by wine or their improved living standards.

Some people claim that antioxidants such as polyphenols and resveratrol in red wine can protect the heart's blood vessels. However, the same compounds are present in grapes, fruits, and vegetables as well. So, science does not accept the statement that wine is a ‘shortcut to good health’. 

What WHO says
The World Health Organisation takes a stricter stand in this matter. Their assumption is that there is no safe amount of alcohol, and even smaller quantities could significantly increase the risk of some cancers. According to anatomy, alcohol possesses a strange molecule that can significantly influence various neurotransmitters in the brain. A small amount of alcohol may make you feel lighter, and you may even get rid of social inhibitions. However, a high amount of alcohol could adversely affect one’s analytical skills, speed of response and concentration. This is the reason why one peg of alcohol might feel like a cheerful friend while the fourth one is an enemy.

Ethanol in space
Ethanol has been found in space, too. Scientists identified ethanol molecules in interstellar clouds made of gas and dust particles using radio telescopes. It is quite interesting that alcohol molecules have been found among the chemical components of stars and planets in our galaxy.

Intoxication without drinking
Auto–Brewery Syndrome is a rare condition in which a person can become intoxicated even without drinking alcohol. Interestingly, fewer than 100 cases of this condition have been identified worldwide. However, researchers say that this condition often doesn’t get diagnosed and has even caused familial disputes and legal issues. Traces of alcohol are detected in the person’s body even when they vow that they haven’t consumed alcohol. Meanwhile, a few recent studies blame microorganisms in the digestive tract that convert carbohydrates and sugars into alcohol. In some patients, these microorganisms grow uncontrollably, turning their bodies into mini ‘distilleries’. Treatment methods that involve replacing these microorganisms with good gut bacteria have yielded positive outcomes in some patients.
(The author is a renowned science communicator.)