Health

A new report from Drinkaware examines the shift of alcohol consumption in the UK from pubs and bars to the home. Around 73% of alcohol is now bought from supermarkets or convenience stores for home use, and adults are about twice as likely to drink at home weekly as they are to drink in pubs or restaurants. Although most home drinking is moderate, the report argues that risk can build over time because drinking at home is frequent and less visible. A small group of heavier drinkers account for a large share of alcohol purchases and about 8.2 million UK…

More new research (pdf) helps to balance the currently overly-negative narrative of wine and health. Chapter 6 of Nourish Your Mind: A Scientific Approach to Brain Health explores the role of phenolic metabolites from wine and their effects on cognitive and digestive processes. The chapter examines how these compounds, particularly polyphenols, contribute to neuroprotection, gut health and overall mental well-being. It highlights that phenolic metabolites found in wine, such as resveratrol and flavonoids, have been linked to cognitive benefits, including memory enhancement and neurodegenerative disease prevention. These compounds exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help mitigate oxidative stress and reduce…

With much debate surrounding wine’s impact on health, here’s some balancing news. New research (pdf) offers an in-depth look at flavonoids, compounds found in wine that might tip the scales in favour of moderate consumption. In red wine, flavonoids make up as much as 90% of its phenolic content. These phenols, largely derived from the grape’s stems, seeds, and skins, are released during the maceration process in winemaking. This process, known as extraction, affects the wine’s astringency, colour and mouthfeel. White wines, on the other hand, have fewer flavonoids due to reduced contact with the grape skins during production. Flavonoids…

David Morrison argues on his blog that current medical evidence does not support the claim that moderate wine consumption is harmful, though public health messaging has increasingly taken a prohibitionist stance. He critiques official health organisations, such as the WHO and the UK Chief Medical Officers, for their stringent guidelines on alcohol, pointing out a lack of solid scientific evidence to justify their warnings. Morrison, a seasoned scientist with extensive research credentials, states that moderate wine consumption, defined as up to two glasses per day for men and one for women, poses no harm according to recent studies. He references…

The VITÆVINO Declaration is a newly launched initiative by major European wine organisations to combat the growing anti-alcohol movement, which has negatively impacted wine sales and wine culture. The declaration, signed on 1 October 2023, aims to defend European wine culture by highlighting four key points: preserving wine heritage, its economic role in rural areas, advocating for moderate consumption as part of a balanced lifestyle and upholding the right to enjoy wine responsibly. This campaign comes at a critical moment as increasing health concerns, particularly following the World Health Organisation’s declaration that no alcohol consumption is safe, have led to…

A new study looks into the belief that light to moderate drinking, particularly of wine, offers health benefits for older adults. The research, involving over 135,000 participants aged 60 and above from the UK, reveals that alcohol’s impact varies based on an individual’s existing health conditions and socioeconomic status. For those with pre-existing health issues or lower socioeconomic status, even minimal drinking increases the risk of death, especially from cancer. However, healthy older adults without such risks did not show an increased mortality rate from moderate drinking. The study highlights that drinking wine, especially with meals, is associated with the…

Up to recently, there has been an intriguing relationship between culture, diet and health outcomes, particularly focusing on the Mediterranean diet and the historic and cultural significance of wine. The concept of the French Paradox played a central role in this narrative, highlighting the seemingly contradictory observation that the French population enjoys a lower incidence of coronary heart disease despite a diet high in saturated fats. This phenomenon garnered widespread attention in the 1990s and has became a focal point in discussions about diet and cardiovascular health. Central to the French Paradox is the role of moderate wine consumption, especially…

There’s new research that looks into alcohol sensitivity experienced by individuals after recovering from COVID-19, known as Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). It presents case series of patients who, after contracting COVID-19, began experiencing adverse reactions to alcohol that they hadn’t faced before, such as severe hangover symptoms from small amounts of alcohol. This suggests a possible link between COVID-19 recovery and heightened alcohol sensitivity.