Alcohol: Health Benefits, Risks, and Social Responsibility

Introduction

Although it has been nearly a century since Prohibition ended in the United States in 1933, the same arguments that resulted in the passage of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act in October 1919 remain salient today. Then as now, opponents of alcohol cite the increased incidence of domestic and other types of violence, the diminished ability to earn a meaningful living, and a host of health-related problems as evidence that even moderate consumption of alcohol is dangerous — and that an enlightened society would seek to prohibit its use to the maximum extent possible. Conversely, researchers have identified some diseases and health disorders that can benefit from low levels of alcohol consumption, and social drinkers who are able to enjoy a few drinks without adverse effects simply do not understand what all the fuss is about.

This paper describes the health benefits associated with alcohol consumption, including some of the most recent findings, as well as an assessment of whether the alcohol industry behaves responsibly in marketing its products. In addition, the paper discusses how American society should treat alcoholism and alcoholics and what Americans, as a society, can do to reduce the problems associated with alcohol use. It then analyzes whether Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) works and what alternatives are available, before providing a summary of the research and relevant findings in the conclusion.

Health Benefits of Alcohol Consumption

There has been intensive research over the past several decades concerning the potential health benefits of alcohol consumption, since many people are clearly going to drink regardless, and the alcohol industry is always eager to find new evidence of beneficial effects to promote its products. The research to date indicates that the consumption of low or moderate levels of alcohol is beneficial for ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, gallstones, and even diabetes (Ashley et al. 2000). In addition, some studies have shown that habitual alcohol consumption is associated with reduced cerebrovascular disease responses (Jones et al. 2013).

According to recent research by the Harvard School of Public Health, however, the various benefits associated with alcohol consumption are typically dependent on the amounts involved. As these authorities emphasize: "It's safe to say that alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The difference lies mostly in the dose. Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system, and probably protects against type 2 diabetes and gallstones" ("Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits" 2022: 3). In sum, drinking a glass of wine with a meal occasionally may provide some health benefits, but consuming large amounts — such as two or three bottles at every meal — will invariably have profoundly serious health implications over the long term (Lown et al. 2007). Complicating the challenges associated with treating alcoholism is the fact that the alcohol industry itself regularly abrogates its responsibility to market its products responsibly, as discussed below.

The Alcohol Industry and Responsible Marketing

Given the enormous social, economic, and health burden that alcoholism causes, some critics might suggest that if the alcohol industry acted completely responsibly, it would not market its products at all (Coomber 2017). It is also reasonable to suggest that, absent legislation to moderate their marketing practices, the alcohol industry would be far more aggressive in selling its products to consumers of all ages, including underage drinkers. Indeed, although the alcohol industry routinely cautions consumers to "drink responsibly" or "enjoy their products in moderation," it fails to communicate the actual risks associated with the consumption of its products (Smith et al. 2014).

A study of the various strategies used by the alcohol industry, conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, identified several constraints that underscore a lack of responsible marketing behaviors. Smith et al. report that "most of the ads analyzed (87 percent) incorporated a responsibility message, but none actually defined responsible drinking or promoted abstinence at particular times or in certain situations" (3). Moreover, even in those cases where a responsibility message was used, it was almost always far smaller than the product's slogan or tagline (Smith et al.). This lack of responsible marketing practice on the part of the alcohol industry is only part of the problem, however; American society as a whole should also treat alcoholism and alcoholics differently than it does at present.

Conclusion

Despite the wide array of negative health consequences associated with even moderate alcohol consumption, the research shows that there are also some corresponding health benefits for certain conditions, including ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, gallstones, and diabetes. Recent published findings indicate that these benefits largely depend on the amount of alcohol routinely consumed, and no research suggests that imbibing large quantities of alcohol confers any health benefits whatsoever. The research also showed that the alcohol industry regularly includes health warnings on its products, but these marketing messages are of limited value given their vagueness and comparative size on packaging and advertisements.

One of the more noteworthy findings to emerge from the relevant literature was the need for Americans to understand and accept that alcoholism is caused by a disease rather than a lack of willpower, and that alcoholics should be regarded accordingly. Consequently, educating the public on this issue represents one of the most important steps American society can take to improve the manner in which these victims are treated. Finally, the research also showed that although Alcoholics Anonymous is not an evidence-based treatment strategy, it remains the most widely used intervention in the United States and abroad, and many alcoholics have succeeded in abstaining from alcohol — even after a lifetime of heavy drinking — despite the dearth of scientific evidence to support this treatment approach.

Works Cited

"Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits." Harvard School of Public Health, 2022. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/drinks-to-consume-in-moderation/alcohol-full-story/

Ashley, Mary Joan, et al. "Beyond Ischemic Heart Disease: Are There Other Health Benefits from Drinking Alcohol?" Contemporary Drug Problems, vol. 27, no. 4, Winter 2000, p. 735.

Coomber, Kerri, et al. "Predictors of Awareness of Standard Drink Labelling and Drinking Guidelines to Reduce Negative Health Effects among Australian Drinkers." Drug & Alcohol Review, vol. 36, no. 2, Mar. 2017, pp. 200–09.

Jones, Alexander, et al. "Habitual Alcohol Consumption Is Associated with Lower Cardiovascular Stress Responses — a Novel Explanation for the Known Cardiovascular Benefits of Alcohol?" Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, vol. 16, no. 4, July 2013, pp. 369–76.

Khauli, Nicole, et al. "Does Knowing about the Long-Term Health Effects of Alcohol Matter? Evidence from a University Sample in Lebanon." Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, Apr. 2021, pp. 336–43.

Lown, E. Anne, et al. "Health Effects from Drinking: Type, Severity, and Associated Drinking Patterns Based on Qualitative and Quantitative Questions in a Methodological Survey." Substance Use & Misuse, vol. 42, no. 5, Mar. 2007, pp. 793–810.

Smith, Katherine C., et al. "'Drink Responsibly' Messages in Alcohol Ads Promote Products, Not Public Health." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 3 Sept. 2014.

Young, Lance Brendan. "Alcoholism and Identity: How an Alternative Framing of Identity Can Facilitate Alcoholics Anonymous Research." Addiction Research & Theory, vol. 19, no. 3, June 2011, pp. 213–23.