3 ms·

I don't think your summary is quite correct "abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers.

I don't think your summary is quite correct "abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers." "Even though heavy drinking is associated with higher risk for cirrhosis and several types of cancer (particularly cancers in the mouth and esophagus), heavy drinkers are less likely to die than people who have never drunk." Side question : For your statement about men, is that just under 2 a day or less than 2 a day?

carbocation 16y ago
2 a day or fewer (inclusive of 2 a day). Also, I think what you said and what I said are in agreement. This is why I called the article a "restatement," because it presents similar outcomes from a different perspective (abstainers have high mortality as opposed to moderate drinkers have low mortality - different ways to represent similar facts). But perhaps you still see a difference? (Edit - see the comment from sp332 below where he/she explains the difference - the news about the heavy drinkers is novel.)