Panorama are doing a programme on over-drinking in the middle classes and I think it's long overdue.
The idea that excess alcohol intake is a working class problem is totally out of date, but a convenient story for the well educated who like to think that because they're drinking high quality wine every evening they aren't doing themselves any harm.
The article is a worth a read, but particularly noteworthy is that recent research shows that even small levels of alcohol consumption can significantly increase breast cancer risk.
I do often get cited research. About alcohol lowering risk of heart disease, which is true in small doses, but the antioxidants in wine can be taken as supplements and there are plenty of other ways to wind down after work (the stress reduction effect of alcohol is thought to be part of why it can lower blood pressure, although if you've ever seen my Uncle Julian mid rant after a few glasses of red you might disagree!)
The point is that any alcoholic drink is bad for you on some level and therefore any misguided notions of drinking for our health need to be kicked into touch. You should enjoy alcohol, like all other treats, in moderation as part of the 80/20 rule, so preferably on no more than two days a week.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/
front_page/newsid_9696000/9696398.stm
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