Office of Research & Development

Is alcohol healthy?
Study suggests even light drinking can shorten life

Mike Richman of VA Research Communications interviews Dr. Sarah Hartz, a psychiatrist at the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System. Hartz led a study that found that consuming alcoholic beverages daily—even at low levels that meet U.S. guidelines for safe drinking—appears to be “detrimental” to your health. The researchers found that downing one to two drinks at least four days per week was tied to a 20 percent increase in the risk of premature death, compared with drinking three times a week or less. The study is one of a series of recent research papers that have challenged the theory that alcohol has health benefits.

(04-10-2019)

Listen (11:11); Transcript