Men under 40 shouldn’t have ‘more than a shot’ of beer a day, new study says

An eyeopening new study has suggested that men under the age of forty shouldn’t consume ‘more than a shot glass’ of beer a day. 

While the NHS recommends people to refrain from regularly drinking more than fourteen units of alcohol per week (six pints of beer), medical researchers at the University of Washington have said the recommended daily limit should be reduced to one 38ml shot glass of beer.

Women aged thirty-nine and under can have a little more, however – two tablespoons of wine or 100ml or beer.

But those over the age of forty can enjoy their tipple with ease, with the study finding that a small amount of alcohol can help ward off heart disease, stroke and diabetes among this age group.

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And for over sixty-fives, the risks of ‘health loss from alcohol consumption’ are only reached from the fourth standard drink onwards.

Researchers looked at the risk of alcohol consumption on twenty-two health outcomes, including injuries, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers using 2020 Global Burden of Disease data.

From this, they were able to determine that age plays a huge factor in how harmful alcohol can be, with authors writing: “Any level of drinking leads to a higher probability of injuries, while small amounts of alcohol decrease the risk of some conditions prevalent in older ages, such as ischaemic heart disease and diabetes.”

Researchers concluded that alcohol provides no health benefits in people under the age of forty, and poses risks including injuries relating to drinking or car accidents, suicides and murders.

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They have since called for stronger guidance to warn younger adults of the health dangers posed by drinking, adding that there should be tailored alcohol guidance to depend on a person’s age and where they live in the world.

Senior author Dr. Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, said: “Our message is simple – young people should not drink, but older people may benefit from drinking small amounts.

“While it may not be realistic to think young adults will abstain from drinking, we do think it’s important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health.”