From scientific evidence to media and policy: Wine – part of a balanced diet or a health risk?

¹ Deutsche Weinakademie, Bodenheim, Germany
² Coordinator, Wine Information Council (WIC), Germany

^a e-mail: fradera@deutscheweinakademie.de

Abstract

Recently, some studies [1, 2] and media reports alerted scientists, health and wine professionals alike. The health benefits of moderate wine consumption were questioned with headlines such as “One drink a day can shorten life” and “Moderate drinking guidelines are too loose, study says”. One publication [2] asserted that there is no safe level of consumption and that the adverse health effects associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages, including wine, outweigh any beneficial effects; this kind of media attention not only contributed to a considerable uncertainty among moderate wine drinkers but also among physicians advising their patients. What about the existing body of evidence and the research results during the last two and half decades that have established the J-curve? It describes the association between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the total mortality where light to moderate drinkers are at a lower risk of death from all causes than either abstainers or heavy drinkers. However, excessive drinking is always associated with an increased risk of death and various health risks. Are these previous scientific data no longer valid? Is cutting down or even eliminating wine consumption a public health goal? A detailed scientific analysis of these publications will be provided and discussed whether the drinking guidelines worldwide should be adjusted. The risk of moderate wine drinkers within the scope of other risk factors will be examined.