Is the French Paradox of a Glass of Wine a Day a Myth?

For years, the idea that drinking a glass of wine a day might be beneficial for health—often referred to as the “French Paradox”—has been widely accepted. However, recent research questions whether moderate drinking is as beneficial as once believed, and the findings may disappoint those who enjoy their daily glass.

A new analysis of studies on moderate alcohol consumption, led by Tim Stockwell from the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, suggests that evidence supporting the health benefits of moderate drinking is flawed. Stockwell’s team found that many studies that claim health benefits from moderate alcohol consumption are often of lower quality and tend to compare moderate drinkers to people who have had to stop drinking for health reasons. This comparison can make moderate drinkers appear healthier than they might actually be, said Dr. Stockwell.

In examining 107 published studies, Stockwell’s team discovered that when data from these studies was combined, it appeared that moderate drinkers (those consuming between one drink per week and two per day) had a 14% lower risk of dying during the study period compared to abstainers. However, this effect was not observed in higher quality studies that focused on younger individuals and made careful distinctions between lifelong abstainers and former drinkers. These more rigorous studies did not support the idea that moderate drinking leads to a longer life.

According to Stockwell, the lower quality studies were more likely to associate moderate drinking with a longer lifespan, often including older participants and grouping former drinkers with lifelong abstainers. “If you look at the weakest studies, that’s where you see health benefits,” Stockwell stated, concluding that there is no truly “safe” level of alcohol consumption.

The concept of moderate drinking as beneficial traces back decades, with the “French Paradox” serving as one prominent example. Popularized in the 1990s, this idea suggested that the French had lower rates of heart disease due to their red wine consumption, despite a diet high in rich, fatty foods. However, health authorities are now reconsidering this idea. The NHS, for example, has revised its stance, stating that the evidence of a protective effect from moderate drinking is now considered weaker than previously thought.

While drinking under 14 units per week is classified as low-risk by the NHS, it is labeled as “low-risk” rather than “safe,” given the lack of a truly safe drinking threshold. Ultimately, Stockwell’s research challenges the belief in the French Paradox and emphasizes that even moderate drinking may carry health risks, including an increased risk of certain cancers.