Let's Settle It: Is 'Moderate' Red Wine Drinking Really Good For Us?

It’s more complicated than you might think.

Too much alcohol is bad for the heart, brain, liver, and our overall health, which is why the NHS notes we should aim for under 14 units a week.

But a glass or two of red wine at dinner is a different story – right? After all, its compound resveratrol has been linked to better blood pressure, the drink is high in antioxidants called polyphenols, and those who sip a sophisticated glass now and then seem to have better health outcomes than teetotallers.

Except that brain and heart experts, among others, think these links – both the “J-shaped” association (where there seems to be a protective health effect at a lower level of wine consumption) and the reported benefits of red wine itself – might not be as straightforward as they look.

Is “moderate drinking” good for our health?

In his book How To Prevent Dementia, neurologist Dr Richard Restak explained that there can be a flaw in studies comparing non-drinkers to moderate drinkers.

Pointing to a 2018 study which found that people who drank a bit of booze tended to have a lower likelihood of developing dementia than those who drank none at all, Dr Restak said: “Before accepting that assertion, consider this. The non-drinking group included individuals who had been drinking earlier in life but discontinued it.

“It’s quite likely........

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