Moderate wine consumption – Drinking Guidelines
Moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially wine, can have a positive effect on health. This has been proven by numerous studies.
There is also no doubt that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased accidents and injuries. Misuse and excessive consumption is related to various diseases and negative health consequences. For example, binge drinking, i.e., drinking large amounts on one occasion, or excessive consumption in general, increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholism, various forms of cancer, pancreatitis, and alcohol-related brain damage. If excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is combined with smoking, the risk of many diseases, especially tumours in the upper digestive tract and throat and larynx, is increased.
Individuals with a certain genetic predisposition metabolise alcohol poorly and thus develop alcohol-related damage more easily. The enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH 2) works very slowly in these individuals, resulting in an accumulation of the degradation product acetaldehyde, which is harmful to humans.
What is moderate drinking ?
drinking guidelines by national authorities
The guidelines set the maximum daily and/or weekly dose of wine/alcoholic beverages mainly expressed in drinking units/standard drinks, that men or women can drink with a low health risk. Few guidelines include recommendations to drink with food, to alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and to drink slowly with the meals.
Certain individuals or individuals in specific situations should avoid drinking any wine/alcoholic beverages, for example underage individuals, women during pregnancy or breastfeeding, individuals who are driving, individuals with a history of addiction or combining alcoholic drinks with certain medications, etc.
Based on the latest available scientific evidence and different references provided by various public health authorities, it is accepted that low-risk moderate consumption ranges between the amounts set out in the guidelines below:
Guidelines for low-risk moderate consumption
Up to 2 drink units a day for women
Up to 3 drink units a day for men
No more than 4 drink units on any one occasion
It is recommended to abstain from drinking wine/alcoholic beverages on one to two days per week.
The amount of alcohol of a drinking unit/standard drink as well as the serving sizes vary from country to country.
An updated and comprehensive table with the international drinking guidelines can be found on the website of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD). For any specific information on national drinking guidelines, please refer to your local authorities’ website.