Is any level of drinking safe for the under 40s?

A recent study has claimed there is a need to “discourage alcohol consumption among young people” with interventions “targeted especially towards young males”, but regulatory body Portman Group has called the recommendations “totally unrealistic”.

The study, authored by University of Washington School of Medicine professor Emmanuela Gakidou, was published in The Lancet. From examining data across 204 countries from the past 30 years, it asserts: “Alcohol consumption at any level is associated with health loss from several diseases…as well as injuries.”

With regards to injuries, Gakidou noted a disparity between men and women. The study claims that, for 15-39 year old men, 25.9% of alcohol-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were related to transport accidents, compared to 12.7% among women.

The study argues:”…a larger proportion of males compared to females consume alcohol, and their average level of consumption is also significantly higher. As a result, young males stood out as the group with the highest level of harmful alcohol consumption.” It alleges that 1.03 billion males across the world consumed harmful levels of alcohol in 2020, compared to 312 million females.

From the data the study examined, it was surmised: “In individuals aged 40–64 years, the health outcomes contributing to the alcohol-related burden shifted to chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.”

For this older age group, it was found that a small amount of alcohol might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and strokes for those without underlying health conditions. Gakidou asserts: “For all other causes, it’s harmful at all levels of consumption.”

Though alcohol consumption is typically recommended based solely on sex, Gakidou advocates for an age-based approach: “Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol.”

The conclusion of the report has been met with scepticism, particularly from UK alcohol social responsibility Portman Group.

In a statement, CEO Matt Lambert said: “The recommendation for variable guidance by age without context would be counterproductive, people will turn off from what they see is unrealistic and complex advice and stop engaging with moderate drinking messages. All the evidence shows that effective alcohol messages and labelling must be easily understandable and actionable.”

The statement also noted that the under 40 age group “is already drinking at lower and more moderate levels compared to older generations.” A recent NHS health survey is cited, which claims that the percentage of English drinkers drinking excessively (more than eight units for men, six for women) on the heaviest drinking days declined from 20% of drinkers to 15% from 2009 to 2019.

Indeed, this claim about a generation divide was reasserted by Sheffield Alcohol Research Group’s Colin Angus: “[there are] over 14 times as many alcohol-attributable deaths in the UK among 70-74 year-olds than 20-24 year olds…”

Furthermore, there are recent studies which may contradict the assertion that drinks can bring no health benefits to young men. Portuguese researches found that a moderate amount of beer each day could be good for gut health, which might in turn be highly beneficial for the rest of the body.