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Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol

It is becoming clear that any amount of alcohol is harmful, so why do so many studies claim that moderate drinking could help you live longer?

By the 2000s, numerous studies of this kind had suggested that the relationship between drinking and the risk of dying at a particular age made a J-shaped curve. People who give up drinking, especially later in life, often do so because they have health problems, says Stockwell, so moderate drinkers appear healthier in comparison. The review shows very clearly that poorer quality studies are more likely to suggest a beneficial effect, says Duane Mellor at the British Dietetic Association.

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