Rather than address in detail the specific findings and recommendations of this paper, I would like to voice my reservations about a simple premise upon which it is based.
It seems unfortunate that, in the opening paragraph, the authors include in 'the alcohol research community . . . [only] . . . individuals and organizations responsible for the production and interpretation of scientific information about the nature, causes and control of alcohol-related problems' ([1]. p. 191; emphasis added).
There is no doubt that 'heavy' or 'excessive' drinking of beverages containing alcohol is associated clearly with a broad range of social, psychological and biomedical problems. However, especially during the last decade, we have also seen a host of studies using various methods, based on large samples, over long periods of time, from around the world, with statistically significant evidence that 'light' or 'moderate' drinking is associated with a broad range of social, psychological and biomedical benefits or advantages. It hardly seems fair that the distinguished scientists who conduct such studies should be excluded from the 'alcohol research community' after having devoted years contributing to our understanding of ethanol and its relation to human beings. A brief summary of how this selective view came to be accepted widely is to be found in the paper by Heath [2]. . . . . .
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