Drinking just 'one drink a day' has a terrifying effect on life expectancy

Dr. Tim Stockwell, a leading authority on alcohol and longevity, has disputed the long-held belief that moderate drinking can be beneficial to health , suggesting instead that it could reduce life expectancy.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dr. Stockwell, a researcher at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, suggested that consuming an average of two drinks per week over a lifetime could decrease one's lifespan by 3 to 6 days. If you consume one drink per day, or seven a week, it could shorten your life expectancy by 2 1/2 months.

For heavy drinkers, those who consume about 35 drinks per week, they may lose approximately two years of life, according to Stockwell's research.

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These findings challenge the widely held belief that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, is good for health. Stockwell, who once advocated for moderate drinking, changed his viewpoint after identifying flaws in previous medical studies.

Stockwell led a meta-analysis that reviewed over 107 studies from the past four decades. The conclusion was clear: no amount of alcohol improves health and it may increase the risk of death from any cause.

Alcohol has been shown to damage various organs, including the brain, heart, liver, and pancreas. It can increase blood pressure, contribute to heart disease, interfere with nutrient absorption, and weaken the immune system.

Stockwell and his team have questioned the validity of studies suggesting health benefits from alcohol, noting that many were sponsored by the alcohol industry. They suggest that nondrinkers might appear less healthy in studies because they've given up alcohol due to pre-existing health issues.

Current federal guidelines advise men to limit their intake to two drinks per day and women to one. However, recent studies suggest that even these levels might be too high.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assembled a six-member advisory board to reevaluate current drinking recommendations.

Guidelines vary across countries, but the general trend is towards reduced consumption.

The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland, and Australia recently reassessed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption guidelines. Starting in 2026, Ireland will require cancer-warning labels on alcohol.