Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We have long heard the claims that a glass of red wine is good for your heart, but it turns out that the research that fueled this wisdom was actually skewed. Some studies made it appear like moderate drinkers were healthier than people who didn't drink at all, leading the public to believe that alcohol was healthier than it is. While drinking alcohol occasionally might not have catastrophic effects on your health, the data shows that even moderate drinking will reduce your life expectancy.
In this episode, we speak with Tim Stockwell, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and a professor of psychology at the University of Victoria. Stockwell has reviewed hundreds of studies that he claims embellished alcohol's effects, and he explains how the new science of drinking is changing the public perception of alcohol. Today, trends like sober-curiosity and “Dry January” are on the rise, and some countries around the world are even implementing new policies around alcohol regulation.
Learn more: https://news.uchicago.edu/big-brains-podcast-whats-truth-about-alcohols-benefits-and-risks?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=bb-episode&utm_campaign=stream
Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The Wine and Heart Health Debate
00:34 Questioning the Research on the benefits of alcohol
01:42 Conflicts of Interest in Alcohol Studies
02:32 Changing Public Perception
05:16 Historical Context: The French Paradox
07:11 The J-Shaped Curve and Its Flaws
11:32 Health Risks of Alcohol Consumption
19:58 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drinking
22:45 Effective Policies: Taxation, Minimum Unit Pricing and Warning Labels
29:55 Conclusion: The Future of Drinking Culture
We have long heard the claims that a glass of red wine is good for your heart, but it turns out that the research that fueled this wisdom was actually skewed. Some studies made it appear like moderate drinkers were healthier than people who didn't drink at all, leading the public to believe that alcohol was healthier than it is. While drinking alcohol occasionally might not have catastrophic effects on your health, the data shows that even moderate drinking will reduce your life expectancy.
In this episode, we speak with Tim Stockwell, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and a professor of psychology at the University of Victoria. Stockwell has reviewed hundreds of studies that he claims embellished alcohol's effects, and he explains how the new science of drinking is changing the public perception of alcohol. Today, trends like sober-curiosity and “Dry January” are on the rise, and some countries around the world are even implementing new policies around alcohol regulation.
Learn more: https://news.uchicago.edu/big-brains-podcast-whats-truth-about-alcohols-benefits-and-risks?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=bb-episode&utm_campaign=stream
Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The Wine and Heart Health Debate
00:34 Questioning the Research on the benefits of alcohol
01:42 Conflicts of Interest in Alcohol Studies
02:32 Changing Public Perception
05:16 Historical Context: The French Paradox
07:11 The J-Shaped Curve and Its Flaws
11:32 Health Risks of Alcohol Consumption
19:58 Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Drinking
22:45 Effective Policies: Taxation, Minimum Unit Pricing and Warning Labels
29:55 Conclusion: The Future of Drinking Culture
