Of the 1.34 billion people consuming excess levels of alcohol in 2020, 59.1 per cent were aged 15—39 years and 79 per cent were male. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Of the 1.34 billion people consuming excess levels of alcohol in 2020, 59.1 per cent were aged 15—39 years and 79 per cent were male. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Of the 1.34 billion people consuming excess levels of alcohol in 2020, 59.1 per cent were aged 15—39 years and 79 per cent were male. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
Of the 1.34 billion people consuming excess levels of alcohol in 2020, 59.1 per cent were aged 15—39 years and 79 per cent were male. Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

Drinking alcohol has 'zero health benefits and carries risks for under 40s'


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

Consuming alcohol even in moderation has “zero or very close to zero” health benefits and carries risks for people aged under 40, a study has found.

A report funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said strategies aimed at limiting alcohol use should be focused on age rather than sex.

Guidance for recommended alcohol consumption is currently based on the sex of drinkers, with women advised to drink fewer units per week than men.

The research, compiled with data from the Global Burden of Disease worldwide study in 2020, revealed that a harmful level of alcohol consumption was predominant in people aged 15—39.

“We found that the population-level health risks associated with low levels of alcohol consumption varied across regions and were greater for younger populations than for older populations,” read the study, titled “Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020", and published in The Lancet medical journal.

“Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol.

“Given these findings, we recommend a modification of existing policy guidelines to focus on emphasising differential optimal consumption levels by age, rather than the current practice of recommending different consumption levels by sex.”

While young men are at the greatest risk of harmful alcohol consumption, harmful use of alcohol was particularly concentrated in males aged 15—39 in Australasia, western and central Europe.

The findings highlighted the need for tailored guidelines to discourage alcohol consumption among young people, as well as alcohol control policies and interventions targeted at young males.

Make 'informed decisions' on alcohol use

“Our message is simple: young people should not drink, but older people may benefit from drinking small amounts,” said senior author Dr Emmanuela Gakidou, Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine.

“While it may not be realistic to think young adults will abstain from drinking, we do think it’s important to communicate the latest evidence so that everyone can make informed decisions about their health.”

Of the 1.34 billion people consuming excess levels of alcohol in 2020, 59.1 per cent were aged 15—39 years and 79 per cent were male.

Between 1990 and 2019, 14 countries saw significant increases in the prevalence of harmful alcohol consumption, 55 countries had significant decreases, and in 135 countries the prevalence did not change significantly.

Small amounts of alcohol consumption were associated with improved health outcomes in people who had cardiovascular diseases and in older adults in many parts of the world.

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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
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  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
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Europa League group stage draw

Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs

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Power: 450hp

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Tips on buying property during a pandemic

Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.

While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.

While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar. 

Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.

Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities. 

Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong. 

Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.

Tour de France

When: July 7-29

UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland

Updated: June 07, 2023, 12:37 PM`