Iñaki Galán Labaca

Studies associating the consumption of low amounts of alcohol with health benefits are not of good scientific quality, says a meta-analysis pooling the findings of 107 previous papers. For example, studies may use a reference group of older adults who have given up or limited alcohol for health reasons. Compared to those who continue to drink, the latter appear to be in better health, notes the article, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

"The level of alcohol consumption that does not harm health is zero," says a review of dozens of studies conducted in recent years on the effect of light drinking. The 20 or so authors of the paper, and other experts, insist that "alcohol is carcinogenic from the first drink". In their view, this message should be conveyed more clearly to the public.