Alcohol consumption figures misleading

When I read a recent article by Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (Irish Examiner, May 30) which headlined that our alcohol consumption was 700 times the upper limit laid down by those in the know, I was puzzled by this for a bit.

That is, until I realised that the 0.05g consumption level quoted must refer to the limit of 0.05g/100cc blood alcohol for driving.

There’s a helluva difference between blood alcohol and daily consumption.

As regards the risk of cancer etc, there is truth in the statement that alcohol does increase the incidence of some cancers, but weighing against that, there is the doubling of heart attacks in teetotallers as against moderate drinkers, and more people die of heart disease than of cancer.

In fact, in a study which goes against the restriction of alcohol somewhat, the American Nurses’ study, found the nurses with the longest lives drank more than the actual, as against your fictitious recommended maximal consumption levels.

While alcoholism is not desirable, neither is information which is incorrect and may prevent people from consuming alcohol at a level which is beneficial to their health, overall.

Dr Garry Lee

Bishopstown

Cork