When holiday shoppers recently went to their local liquor stores in search of some liquid spirit, many were instead greeted by the sight of increasingly barren shelves.
Although partly a result of global supply chain issues, this was also yet more evidence of the rising demand for alcohol among adults during these difficult COVID years. It's a trend that has led to concerns of an echo pandemic of alcohol-related morbidity, which has begun to play out in the form of rising rates of gastrointestinal and liver disease, hospital admissions for alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol-related incidents of domestic violence.
Those who imbibe alcohol in low-to-moderate levels may not see themselves reflected in such stories of drinking's hefty tolls. They're instead following established health guidance that a little bit of alcohol now and then actually has robust health benefits. Yet the last couple of years have seen a notable fraying of this idea, as emerging data calls into question whether alcohol in moderation should really continue to be just what the doctor ordered.
Behind the Curve: Alcohol's Diminishing Cardioprotective Value
Perhaps the most resonant argument for the benefits of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption—usually defined as between 1 to 2 drinks a day—has been its proposed cardioprotective value. In this way, alcohol differs from tobacco, which is unsafe at any level.
