Moderate alcohol consumption can have both a positive and a negative influence on health. German researchers have attempted to calculate the general effect of moderate alcohol consumption on mortality, on life expectancy and of life expectancy corrected by quality (the “QALYs”, quality-adjusted life-years).

The researchers examined the influence of moderate alcohol consumption on a series of health problems, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and gall stones. The study related to alcohol consumption in Germany for the year 2002.

The research led to the conclusion that moderate alcohol consumption cost 14 457 lives and saved 29 918. The number of lost years of life expectancy totalled 205 691, the number of gained years of life totalled 300 382. The number of lost Qalys totalled 179 964 years, while the number of gained Qalys was 258 284 years.

However, there was a difference according to age: for men of 55 to 60 years and for women of 62.5 to 67.5 years, more years were lost than gained.

The costs of moderate alcohol consumption were also calculated: they came to 3 049 million euros for the direct and 2 630 million euros for the indirect costs, while 2 094 million direct and 2 604 million euros indirect costs were avoided.

Although the calculations display a broad margin of uncertainty, it appears to be established that, on the whole, moderate alcohol consumption delivers a net profit in terms of gained lives, life expectancy and Qalys in older persons, but that the overall social cost increases. The authors thus conclude that caution is advised even for moderate alcohol consumption, especially among younger persons.

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