Horrible medical advice in print when doctors shill for the alcohol industry

Times-Colonist doctor uncaps a bottle of fooling-yourself alcohol-industry propaganda.

'Moderate beer drinking never killed anyone.' Not all physicians are this foolish with advice advocating drinking a toxin and known carcinogen. Sadly, many still buy in to junk science touting health benefits of drinking alcohol. There are ZERO health benefits to even 'moderate' consumption of this drug in evidence-based studies.

The full article is at The Doctor Game: Moderate beer-drinking never killed anyone,  The gist of it is "The secret for longevity remains the same — following a healthy lifestyle early in life and sticking with it. Too many attempt it unsuccessfully at the end of life.

"Add it all up, and it’s moderation throughout life that wins the day. Just consider alcohol. At least 20 studies show that moderate drinkers live longer than either teetotallers (sic) or alcoholics. [20 wish-thing observational studies which do not take into account other lifestyle factors] Alcohol lowers blood cholesterol [false, it increases triglycerides] and decreases the risk of a fatal blood clot [also false, it is a leading contributor to stroke risk].

"So beer in moderation never killed anyone on the Mayflower, or anywhere else. Beer contains no cholesterol, fat, triglycerides or sugar, and is low in sodium. It also contains vitamins, calcium for bones [untrue nutritional claims], potassium to lower blood pressure [alcohol use increases, worsens hypertension] and magnesium to regulate the heart’s rhythm. [Widely discredited heart health benefits.]

"The government doesn’t prevent the sale of cars because some idiots drive too fast. Yet ironically, and possibly criminally, it prohibits beer and liquor companies from stating that moderate drinking is a healthy habit. My advice is buy a bathroom scale and step on it every day. This will help to keep you a moderate consumer of food, alcohol, and exercise. If the scale continues to show increasing weight, need I say more?"

Yes, you need to say something honest about the drug you're proclaiming safe in moderation. There is no safe level when consuming a toxin and carcinogen, doctor, according to scientists who don't shill for the alcohol industry. And 'moderate' beer drinking increases accident risk with impairment beginning at .02 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). 

Vladislavs Gorniks image, used with permission.


Stevens is author of four alcohol, health, and recovery books and is principal of alcohologist.com. He is a founding influencer of the world’s largest medical portal, healthtap.com. He will Chair the 2018 International Conference on Addiction Therapy and Clinical Reports in Paris, France.