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Alcohol and Health Benefits
Health specialists have regarded alcohol in small amounts to be beneficial for the health. The results of a Danish study, reported in a British Medical Journal, reflects that the risk of heart disease is lower in men who consume alcohol in moderation. The study was conducted on about 50,000 men and women in Denmark. The results concluded that the risks of coronary artery event were lessened in those who drank one drink a week or more.
The table below shows the percentage risk of coronary heart problem in men and women:
| |
'rarely'* |
1 a week |
2-4 a week |
5 or 6 a week |
daily |
| Women |
100% |
64% |
63% |
79% |
65% |
| Men |
100% |
93% |
78% |
71% |
59% |
The table indicates a reduced risk of almost 35% among men and women who consume alcohol daily.
The researches conducted by the Harvard researchers identify that moderate consumption of alcohol has reduced the risk to coronary heart diseases. The diagram below depicts the U shaped curve obtained by their study.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/AlcoholAndHealth.html
In addition to fewer hear attacks and strokes, moderate consumption of alcohol reduces the risk of hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease and even common cold. The doctors, nowadays, consider consumption of red wine, distilled spirits or liquor to be good for health.
In spite of these research findings, the opponents have a different point of view. They point out that having a considerably higher drinking age has contributed to bring down the number of road accidents. But the data by the National Youth Rights Association indicate that increasing the drinking age has not contributed in reducing the number of accidents, but has just contributed in transferring the number of lost lives from the 18 age group sector to the 21 age sector. Moreover, the evidence that the majority of the teenagers start consuming alcohol, even before it is legal, is reflective of the fact that the higher drinking age is policy has been a complete failure.
Works Cited
Griffith, Robert W. "Healthy Drinking Habits." Health and Age. 3 July 2006. 03 Mar. 2007
http://www.healthandage.com/public/article/3127/Healthy-Drinking-Habits.html
"Frequently Asked Questions." National Youth Rights Association. 03 Mar. 2007
http://www.youthrights.org/dafaq.php
Hanson, David J. "Alcohol and Health." Department of Sociology, State University of New York. 10 Mar. 2007
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/AlcoholAndHealth.html
