Alcohol is carcinogenic, teratogenic and causally associated with numerous other health related harms. Our updated evidence review, using both relative and absolute risk analysis, presents a more transparent picture of the continuum of risk associated with increasing levels of alcohol consumption. To add greater clarity to alcohol’s health impact, we used lifetime abstainers as our comparison population; identified the absolute risk level of consumption for a 1:1,000 level of risk of premature death – a risk level generally accepted for voluntary activity – as well as the 1:100 level of risk historically used to define “low risk” alcohol consumption.
The results are surprising, and necessitate a new approach to communicating the continuum of risk to consumers. This includes not only the population health data, but also helping people to individualize their personal risk in the context of their alcohol use. It is intended to inform, provoke reflection, and assist in reducing harm. Less is better, while the consumer has the right to be more fully informed.