I like a glass of wine on a Friday night as much as anyone, so it brings me no joy to tell you about a major new study published today. It finds that light or moderate drinking is not likely to extend your life, and people who drink lots of alcohol are at higher risk of premature death than non- or occasional drinkers.

Wait, you may be thinking, isn’t drinking in moderation supposed to be good for you? That was conventional wisdom for a long time. But a recent wave of studies has called that conclusion into question, based on flaws in the way older studies on alcohol and health were conducted. Now, though there’s still some debate, many scientists believe there is no fully safe amount of drinking.

Regardless of what the science says, Tim Stockwell, who co-authored the study out today, says it’s hard to make blanket recommendations about booze. One person might decide grabbing beers with friends is worth whatever health consequences come with those pints, while another might see it differently. In the end, he told me, it’s all about risk tolerance.

READ MORE