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Studies on alcohol can show better results for moderate users because people who don't drink may have other medical issues or problems related to alcohol. It's

• bluGill 8y ago
  The most common specific reason for someone not to drink is religious. Religions with alcohol restrictions tend to also have other restrictions (both lifestyle and diet) that confound things. Thus it is really hard to know if any difference is from alcohol restriction or from something else.
  • mcbits 8y ago
    Another reason people abstain from drink is because they used to drink heavily until it caused noticeable harm. If some of that damage is permanent, it can make moderate alcohol use seem comparatively healthy even if it's also slightly harmful.
    • coldtea 8y ago
      The control group is obviously people who do not drink, period -- they don't say drinking moderately is better compared to someone who doesn't drink because they already have alcohol related issues.
      • mcbits 8y ago
        No, that's not an obvious or safe assumption at all, and in fact I believe this is from the study that inspired the article linked in the root comment: > The lack of objective confirmation of actual amount of alcohol consumed, lack of information concerning alcohol intake before baseline, and inclusion of ex-drinkers with never drinkers in the non-drinker category, as well as lack of assessment of drinking patterns place reservations on the observed findings. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3377489/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3377489/