Put the barrel away. People under the age of 40 should never consume alcohol because alcohol does not confer health benefits by increasing the risk of injury and death, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle found that people under the age of 40 who drink are more likely to be injured in a car accident, suicide, or homicide than their non-drinking peers.
However, there may be some benefits to drinking it for those over 40, as a glass of red wine each day can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, or diabetes.
According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 66% of adults in the United States drink alcohol each year and 5% are heavy drinkers.
Researchers found that people under the age of 40 did not benefit from drinking and should avoid drinking altogether if possible (archive photo)
“Our message is simple: young people should not drink, but older people can benefit from drinking small amounts,” Dr Emmanuela Gakidou said in a statement.
Publishing their findings in The Lancet on Thursday, the researchers gathered data from more than 200 countries for the Global Burden of Disease study.
They compared alcohol consumption to 22 health problems or outcomes, such as injuries, heart disease, cancer, and more.
While the general public is likely aware of some of the dangers of alcohol, and the damage it can do to a person’s liver in particular, researchers wanted to determine who is at risk, for what, and under what circumstances.
They found that around 1.3 billion people consumed harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, roughly 15% of the world’s population.
About three out of five at-risk drinkers were between the ages of 15 and 39 and were not recommended for age groups to drink.
About 75 percent of this group was male.
The researchers found that people in this age group do not drink and are more likely to harm themselves from alcohol consumption.
However, there is some leeway a person has when it comes to drinking before it causes long-term harm to their health.
Researchers found that a man between the ages of 15 and 39 can have an average of 0.136 drinks a day – or less than one drink per week – and not have to worry about anything.
For women under 40, the tolerance increased to 0.273 per day, or just under two drinks per week.
Older people who drink red wine occasionally can reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other ailments (archive photo)
However, persuading young people not to drink is a difficult task, especially throughout the United States and Europe, where alcohol has its roots in young cultures.
“While it is unrealistic to think that young adults avoid drinking, we believe it is important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their own health,” said Gakidou.
Seniors are more like a pillow when it comes to their drinking and health, and may even benefit from an occasional drink.
Researchers found that people ages 40 to 64 can drink up to two a day and stay healthy.
Seniors over 65 can extend it to three drinks a day.
This difference is due to the potential health benefits of drinking experienced by the elderly.
While younger people have little to gain, older people who drink red wine often have better heart and brain health than their peers.
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
