Expert Says Just 2 Drinks Per Week Can Shorten Your Life by This Much

A doctor who previously extolled the virtues of moderate alcohol consumption has changed his tune in light of new research.

Tim Stockwell, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, now believes that no amount of alcohol is safe to ingest. He revealed to The Daily Mail how much just one daily drink can shorten your lifespan.

Those who imbibe two drinks per week—whether it be a beer, a glass of wine, or a cocktail—over the course of their lifetimes will generally shorten their lifespan by three to six days. People who consume one drink per day will see their lives shortened by two and a half months, on average.

If you’re a heavy drinker or regular imbiber who consumes 35 drinks per week—roughly five per day—your lifespan may be shortened by up to two years.

Stockwell is quick to note that these figures are just averages, as an individual’s health and genetic makeup can either slow or accelerate the deterioration.

Stockwell came to these conclusions after five years of extensive research, including that which shaped Canada’s new guidelines for alcohol consumption. Under the new guidance, all adults are recommended to consume no more than two alcoholic drinks per week. The previous cap had been 15 drinks for men and 10 for women. The guidelines also refute previously held beliefs that a small amount of alcohol is beneficial for sleep and overall health.

A 2020 report found roughly 13,500 alcohol-related studies which extolled the health benefits of drinking were funded by “alcohol companies or affiliated organizations.”

“This allows alcohol companies to exploit a ‘transparency loophole,’” the report explained, “as many people assume these organizations are charities and don’t realize the connection to the industry. While there are many legitimate fields for research funded by the alcohol industry—such as studies into ingredients and environmental impacts—their involvement in health research is particular cause for concern. Many of these studies make claims about the protective cardiovascular effects of alcohol and suggest that substance abuse problems are down to individual choices rather than industry behaviors.”

“Alcohol is our favorite recreational drug. We use it for pleasure and relaxation, and the last thing we want to hear is that it causes any harm,” Stockwell explained. “It’s comforting to think that drinking is good for our health, but unfortunately, it’s based on poor science.”