News
SIBA and CAMRA slam drink warning
Added: Friday, April 13th 2018
Commenting on today's Cambridge University Study into the dangers of moderate alcohol consumption, which asserts that as little as one alcoholic drink a day could shorten your life, James Calder, Head of Communications at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said;
“This study completely overlooks the well documented health benefits light to moderate enjoyment of alcohol brings. The incidence of Type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, haemorrhagic stroke, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, macular degeneration and gall bladder disease are just some of the conditions that are lower in sensible drinkers. The mental and social benefits of enjoying alcohol sensibly are also overlooked. We have 40 years of research, which shows light to moderate drinking equals improved cognitive function and memory in ageing as well as reduced chance of vascular dementia. What about the simple, social, improvements to quality of life that being in a pub or taproom with your friends and family regularly brings to our wellbeing?”
“The well known J shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality shows that with light to moderate consumption, your relative risk of total mortality drops significantly when compared to teetotallers."
“Sadly we live in an era where those in the temperance and health movements refuse to accept the facts: that sensible alcohol consumption has health benefits and that adults should be informed to make their own choices, not nannied into submission.”
Following the Cambridge University study regarding risk thresholds for alcohol consumption, National Chairman for CAMRA, Colin Valentine, said:
“Despite the inaccurate, misleading and sensational headlines in the media, this study confirms what we have been saying for a long time: moderate consumption of alcohol is more beneficial than not drinking at all, and while heavy drinking of course carries risks to health, those risks only increase at a level of consumption far above the current UK consumption guidelines.
“In addition, studies have shown that enjoying alcohol responsibly in communal settings such as pubs brings drinkers many benefits to their social wellbeing and mental health.
“We will continue to urge the Government to provide the public with balanced and unbiased information about risks associated with drinking so that they can make their own informed decisions - as well as urge the media to report studies of this sort in a fair and accurate way, rather than potentially misleading people into believing any alcohol consumption is harmful.”
