By Peyton Majors
Christian Action League
August 8, 2024
A major new study is challenging and even overturning the widely held belief that moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits.
The research, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, found no health benefits in moderate alcohol consumption such as consuming a glass of wine a day. In fact, the research said, previous studies that found a supposed health benefit were flawed.
Teetotalers and moderate alcohol drinkers have similar mortality rates, the study said.
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said the implications of the new findings “are profound.”
“They challenge the public perception that moderate drinking is good for our health and call for a reevaluation of public health guidelines that may have underestimated the harm of alcohol,” Creech said. “It indicates that there is no completely safe level of drinking, and even moderate consumption can increase the risk of certain cancers and other health issues.”
Tim Stockwell and his team at the University of Victoria conducted the new study.
Previous studies were flawed, Stockwell said, because they compared moderate alcohol drinkers with abstainers without considering that the “abstainer” group included former drinkers who may have quit due to health issues.
“That makes people who continue to drink look much healthier by comparison,” Stockwell said.
The scientific website StudyFinds.com explained Stockwell’s theory by comparing two groups of people in their 60s: Those who drink moderately and those who don’t drink at all. “At first glance,” StudyFinds said, “moderate drinkers might appear healthier.”
“But here’s the catch — many of the non-drinkers may have given up alcohol due to health problems or medication use,” StudyFinds said. “This means the ‘abstainer’ group could be stacked with people who are already less healthy, making the moderate drinkers look better by comparison. This bias becomes more pronounced as people age. Think about it: as we get older, more of us develop health issues that might lead to quitting alcohol. So, studies that focus on older populations are more likely to have this skewed comparison between drinkers and non-drinkers.”
The new research examined 107 studies on the subject with 4,838,825 participants and 425,564 recorded deaths.
“When they looked at higher-quality studies — those that followed younger people over time and carefully separated lifelong non-drinkers from former drinkers — the health advantages of moderate drinking disappeared,” StudyFinds said. “In fact, these studies showed no significant difference in mortality risk between light drinkers and abstainers.”
The benefits of abstaining from alcohol, Creech said, go beyond health.
“From a biblical perspective, the dangers of alcohol have long been recognized. Proverbs 20:1 warns, ‘Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.’ Additionally, Ephesians 5:18 advises, ‘Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.’ These Scriptures highlight the potential for alcohol to lead individuals astray and cause harm, contrasting it with the positive influence of living a Spirit-filled life,” Creech said.
“I think this is very important to understand. Despite what has been said by many for decades, it is not simply the abuse of alcohol that is the problem. Alcohol itself is problematic. Inherent to its use are health issues, distorted perceptions, potential addiction, impaired judgment, and significant societal harm.”
Wisdom is critical for maintaining a biblical worldview, Creech added.
“As we navigate conflicting health advice, this study reminds us of the importance of critical thinking and the evolving nature of scientific understanding,” he said. “What we think we know today might be overturned by better research tomorrow. In the meantime, I urge everyone to consider the risks associated with alcohol and to choose a path of wisdom and healthfulness. I am absolutely certain this is the will of God. You may have questions about whether the Bible condemns the use of alcohol. However, of this one thing you can be totally sure: The Bible endorses abstinence.”
