From BBC Radio 4 'More or Less', broadcast last week.
The latest advice from Dr Sally Davis, Chief Medical Officer UK, about the consumption of alcohol was for MEN to drink no more than 14 units a week, (the same as for women now), that's about 6 pints.
As I enjoy a couple of beers most days, I was miffed at this to say the least !
In the 'More or Less' program :-
Dr Jurgen Rein points out that health 'stats' comparing drinkers with non-drinkers are unreliable because people tend on average to underestimate the amount they do drink by 30% at least. Dr Rein is ultra-eminent apparently and he notes the beneficial effect of alcohol on circulation and it's protective effects as 'significant'.
The exciting data came from Prof. David Speigalhalter who is Winton Professor of Risk at Cambridge University.
Lifetime risks are evalued as follows :-
....... dying in a road accident is one in 300 0.33%
....... dying from the effects of alcohol
(at existing advisory levels) is one in 150 0.67%
....... dying due to sedentary lifestyle is one in 9 11.00%
....... dying from smoking related illnesses is one in 2 50.00%
Now I think it IS important for the Government to provide health data as guidance but these kill-joys pursuing their nanny state agendas should 'get lost' !
That's YOU Dr Sally Davis !
It would be much better to address the problem of binge drinking generally and particularly as promoted among the young, (not least in Universities and Colleges and in the Military), rather than to pester us moderate drinkers.
Anyway, hope that's of interest.
Lies, d a m n lies and statistics !
Paassh anover LeO please Dear.
I applied a fix, and it seems to be working again. Some files are missing now, got written over in my repair. We'll have to see, what else can and needs to be recovered or set up anew. Please report any malfunctions.