Ever since a huge study published in The Lancet five years ago showed that there was no safe dose of alcohol, or, to put it simply, no one should drink at all, different groups of scientists were trying to find something attractive or useful in drunkenness.
Another attempt, and quite successful one, was made by scientists from the Gumi Medical Center, South Korea. It would be fair to note that they started their work even before The Lancet published those very sobering results, seven years ago, but this did not make the data of the Koreans less interesting.
Thus, 4 million Koreans aged 40 years and older, whose medical records are maintained by the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, have been giving information about their health and lifestyle for seven years. They were doing it unintentionally, in the course of a routine semi-annual medical examination required by insurance. Among other information, they shared how they are doing with alcohol.
The researchers consider low-drinkers those whose alcohol consumption fits within one standard dose according to American rules, 40 grams of strong alcohol, 150 grams of wine or 350 grams of beer, in other words, a shot of vodka, glass of red wine or small beer. People whose consumption is twice as high are called moderate drinkers. All those who drink more have already been considered bitter drinkers.
Photos are from open sources.
