Is It No Longer Considered Safe to Wine and Dine?

Chuck Norris
Thu, 30 Jan 2025 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

As I pointed out last week, tobacco consumption in the Americas goes back over 1,000 years. And today, if we have learned anything, it is that it is one very old and deadly habit we can't seem to shake off and eliminate. Tobacco continues to hold firm as the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this country.

At the same time, a recent NBC News story revealed that, due to shifting demographics and health concerns, "U.S. wine sales continued a multiyear decline in 2024." Reports Ash Reynolds, "Wine isn't the only alcoholic drink that's fallen on hard times; data from NIQ shows sales for beer, cider and spirits have also decreased. But wine's fall is steeper." What is most interesting is that this decline comes on the heels of an August Gallup poll that "shows that more than 4 in 10 Americans now think alcohol is unhealthy." To me, this feels like a significant breakthrough.

As to wine's consumption in America, its roots run deep. According to Earth.com, "wine drinking in the Americas trace(s) back to the 15th century." According to The Zoe Report, "by the middle of the 19th century, nearly every American state was producing wine."
Updated: Fri Jan 31, 2025

As I pointed out last week, tobacco consumption in the Americas goes back over 1,000 years. And today, if we have learned anything, it is that it is one very old and deadly habit we can't seem to shake off and eliminate. Tobacco continues to hold firm as the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this country.

At the same time, a recent NBC News story revealed that, due to shifting demographics and health concerns, "U.S. wine sales continued a multiyear decline in 2024." Reports Ash Reynolds, "Wine isn't the only alcoholic drink that's fallen on hard times; data from NIQ shows sales for beer, cider and spirits have also decreased. But wine's fall is steeper." What is most interesting is that this decline comes on the heels of an August Gallup poll that "shows that more than 4 in 10 Americans now think alcohol is unhealthy." To me, this feels like a significant breakthrough.

As to wine's consumption in America, its roots run deep. According to Earth.com, "wine drinking in the Americas trace(s) back to the 15th century." According to The Zoe Report, "by the middle of the 19th century, nearly every American state was producing wine."

Eric Asimov, chief wine critic for The New York Times, concedes in a recent opinion piece for the Times that wine sales are down and health concerns are on the rise, but he believes it is important to remember that wine "has been embraced by humans since the dawn of civilization. Wine has played a role in religions and been a beloved element of many societies. ... Grape vines were among the first crops cultivated by humanity. ... (Wine) is often integral to people's cultural identities." He believes that aged wine "offers a journey through time." And, in addition to enhancing meals and gatherings and bringing people together, it also "can be a gateway to philosophy and to contemplation," Asimov writes.

"I have never consumed wine because I imagined it was healthy," he continues. "But I don't fear it in moderation, just as I continue to do other things that are not without risk, like drive, fly, eat meat and train in martial arts."

"There are many antioxidant-rich foods and beverages, and wine is one of them,"

writes registered dietitian Ashley Sobel in a 2023 Healthline post. "Grapes have high levels of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. ... One 2023 meta-analysis concluded that moderate amounts of red wine, in the context of a Mediterranean diet, showed beneficial effects."

That said, Sobel writes that "though wine has been associated with health benefits, it should not be mistaken for a health drink." She also notes that "the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have both released public statements asserting that no amount of alcohol should be considered safe and even low levels have added risks."

Also cited are studies suggesting that a compound called resveratrol found in wine "has anti-inflammatory properties and may benefit health." In addition, Healthline reports that "a 2021 trial study of coronary heart disease patients found that low to moderate wine consumption lowered their inflammation" and that "studies show that individuals who consume moderate amounts of wine have a lower risk of heart disease mortality when compared with beer or spirits."

Healthline also warns that "a higher risk for cardiovascular disease mortality was typically seen with heavier daily or weekly alcohol consumption across all types of beverages."

"Drinking wine will not benefit your health more than not drinking at all," deduces Sobel. "If you choose to drink for enjoyment, the best choice is to do so in moderation, and in combination with a healthy diet, including antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables."

So the question now before us: Should we or shouldn't we drink alcohol in moderation? Even when done so in combination with a healthy diet and other healthy life habits, should it now be off the table?

This question led me to think of Dan Buettner, a National Geographic fellow, researcher and New York Times bestselling author who in 2004 coined the term "blue zone." I have written articles in the past about his work in identifying these special regions around the world where people have, on average, longer lifespans.

In a recent interview with Greek Reporter, Buettner says: "Blue zones ... teach us that eating a mostly whole food, plant-based diet, knowing and living your purpose, staying socially connected with other healthy people, and moving naturally offer us more years of good life." It also needs to be noted that the centenarians in the original blue zone areas studied also drank alcohol moderately and regularly, surrounded by good friends and family.

As to the yes or no question about wine consumption, the answer seems to lean toward "maybe."

"Though drinking wine has been shown to have some health benefits, if you don't currently drink, you shouldn't start drinking for the health benefits," writes Sobel. If there is any doubt that excessive alcohol intake can be harmful, Healthline notes that "an average of 140,557 people die in the United States each year due to excessive alcohol consumption."

And if there is any doubt that we are experiencing changing cultural perceptions about alcohol consumption among our fellow Americans, two recent polls reported in The Washington Post make it clear.

According to a CNN poll conducted in January, "half of U.S. adults say moderate drinking — one or two drinks a day — is bad for your health," reports the Post. In a Gallup poll conducted in 2007, "only 25 percent of Americans" said they held similar views. A more recent Gallup Poll conducted in July found that "45 percent of Americans said moderate drinking is detrimental."

While, yes, there is research that suggests that drinking an occasional glass of red wine is not without benefits, Sobel also adds that "it's important to remember that drinking wine is not healthy for everyone, nor is it necessary."