Is low-to-moderate alcohol consumption beneficial for longevity?

Alcohol presents a paradox. On one hand, it is linked to over three million deaths per year globally and fuels societal issues such as intimate-partner violence and traffic accidents. On the other hand, it’s not entirely a one-dimensional narrative of harm – potential benefits are intertwined with the undeniable perils. According to epidemiological studies, moderate daily consumption of alcohol – a common global practice – has been associated with a reduced risk of several serious diseases including type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke, leading to decreased overall mortality rates. How do we resolve these findings with alcohol’s unambiguous toxicity? And how do we draw the line between healthy and unhealthy drinking patterns?