No Health Benefit from Moderate Alcohol Consumption

David Potter

Newsweek reports a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs which disputes claims that moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits. After scrutinizing 87 studies on the subject, researchers concluded that all but 13 of them had flawed methodology. In short, the control groups in each case contained people who had stopped drinking for health reasons. When the researchers dropped such people from the statistics, the purported health benefits disappeared. The thirteen studies that did not use the flawed methodology also showed no health benefits for moderate intake of alcohol.

One possible interpretation of Paul’s admonition to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23) is that Paul was commenting as much on the quality of the water available to Timothy as on the medicinal properties of wine (however one defines wine).

University professors undergo significant pressure to publish articles in peer reviewed research journals. Referees who review the articles do not have the time necessary to verify the results. Recent meta-studies have shown that as many as half of these published studies are not reproducible. Remember that fact the next time you read that a particular scientific study has “proved” this or that. Only one Book is 100% reliable.

The Newsweek article is here: Studies that find moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial are based on unreliable data, says a new analysis

David Potter serves as a missionary in Hungary with Baptist World Mission.