HAVING a glass of wine every day is not good for you, experts have warned.
In a bid to dispel the “myth” that moderate drinking could boost health, the World Health Federation has dismissed studies suggesting small amounts of alcohol may improve cardiovascular health.
They say such reports are unreliable, as they called for urgent action to tackle the global rise in deaths caused by drinking.
More than 2.4 million people died because of alcohol in 2019–accounting for 4.3 per cent of deaths globally, according to the federation.
Professor Monika Arora, a member of the federation, said: “The portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent and widely publicised claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease.
“These claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by the alcohol industry to mislead the public about the danger of their product.”
The organisation said alcohol was “a psychoactive and harmful substance that can cause significant damage to the human body” and pointed out research linking its consumption to cardiovascular disease, cancer, digestive diseases, injuries and several infectious diseases…”
The World Health Federation has recommended stronger restrictions on the availability of alcohol, enforced bans on advertising it, and better access to screening and treatment.