The amount of alcohol that can pose a health risk to people under the age of 40 may be much less than previously thought.
A new study suggests that a safe daily limit for young men is just one small, 38ml shot glass of beer per day.
Women 39 and younger can have a little more – two tablespoons of wine, or 100 ml, or beer.
The research contrasts with guidance from the NHS, which recommends Britons regularly avoid drinking more than 14 units per week.
This is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.
However, for people over the age of 40, a drink or two can actually help ward off heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
And for those over 65, the risks of “health harm from alcohol consumption” reach only after a fourth standard drink.
Researchers are calling for stronger guidance to warn young adults of the health dangers of drinking alcohol – and say alcohol guidance should be in place depending on a person’s age and where in the world they live .
According to an analysis of drinking habits in 204 countries around the world, approximately 1.34 billion people consumed harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020.
The study found that 59% of harmful drinkers were aged 15 to 39, and three-quarters of harmful drinkers were men.
He said alcohol confers no health benefits in people under the age of 40 – and poses risks, including injuries related to drinking or car accidents, suicides and homicides.
Senior author Dr Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of health metrics science at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in the US, said: “Our message is simple – young people should not drink, but older people may benefit from drinking in moderation. .
“While it may not be realistic to think that young adults will abstain from drinking, we think it is important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health.”
Researchers looked at the risk of alcohol consumption on 22 health outcomes, including injuries, heart diseases and cancer, using 2020 Global Burden of Disease data.
They used the information to estimate how much alcohol a person could drink before taking on additional risks to their health compared to a person who did not drink.
They found that alcohol levels increased throughout life without increasing health risks.
“This is driven by differences in the leading causes of death and disease burden at different ages,” the authors wrote.
“Any level of drinking is more likely to lead to injuries, while small amounts of alcohol reduce the risk of certain conditions prevalent in older age, such as ischemic heart disease and diabetes.”