Here’s why younger people face greater health risks from drinking than older adults

New Delhi: Alcohol drinking poses more health hazards to young individuals than to older adults. This study is the first to report alcohol risk by age, sex, year, and geographic region. It contends that global alcohol consumption recommendations have to be based on geography and age, with the harshest recommendations being made for males between the ages of 15 and 39, who are most at risk of consuming alcohol harmfully globally.

According to the study, persons over 40 who are healthy and drink in moderation—between one and two standard drinks per day—may have certain benefits, such as a decreased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Researchers estimated that 1.34 billion people consumed dangerous levels of alcohol in 2020 using data of alcohol usage in 204 countries.

Males between the ages of 15 and 39 made up the majority of the population in every location who drank alcohol in harmful amounts. For this age group, drinking alcohol poses numerous health dangers rather than any benefits, according to the researchers. According to them, people in this age bracket account for over 60% of all alcohol-related injuries, including killings, suicides, and auto accidents.

Emmanuela Gakidou, a professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in the US and the study’s principal author, stated, “Our message is simple: young people should not drink, while elderly people may benefit from small levels of alcohol use.”

While expecting young adults to abstain from alcohol consumption may not be feasible, Gakidou stated, “We do believe it is necessary to share the latest evidence so that everyone may make informed decisions about their health.”