A title of an article that appears in the March 28, 2019 issue of The viewer from Christopher Snowden, “The Campaign to Make Alcohol ‘The New Tobacco'”, appears to be more than just a shot in the bow of alcohol. Over the last decade there has been an increase in the results of grieving research claiming the benefits or dangers of alcohol consumption. Now the anti-alcohol contingent appears to be increasing its claims through studies, which may be more flawed than claims in pro-alcohol research. In short, any investigation can be manipulated; The devil is in the details. Certainly, there seem to be flaws in all the investigations; What are we going to believe?

The wine industry should take the attack on alcohol seriously; you are gaining acceptance and credibility, no matter how artificial the research and the resulting messages. Remember when the investigation once accused coffee was a real health problem? Current research says that coffee is an antioxidant and is healthy; drink all you want. Reflect for a moment on all the things that were once thought beneficial and are now considered harmful, and vice versa. There was a time when butter was bad and margarine was better, now we are told that the chemicals in margarine are much worse than the natural fats in butter.

With studies on wine, from the French paradox (1980s) and protests about the various health effects of wine, it now appears that there are orchestrated campaigns to point out that all alcohol consumption is harmful. “Two widely reported studies in The lancet stated that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. The evidence in these studies, as it was, didn’t really support that claim, “says Snowden. What are we to believe? Still, it appears that the media, academia, and the medical establishment have focused on the majority of anti-alcohol studies and becoming an ambassador for the new “anti” cause. The anti-alcohol movement is now between doctor and patient. Every time I go to the doctor they ask me if I drink wine, beer or spirits and how often Why and when did I do it This beginning? And, yes, people have died from drinking too much water!

In relation to the aforementioned article, the author, Dr. Alex Berezow, who wrote for the “American Council on Science and Health” in 2018, seems to highlight many flaws in the same study. Before an oenophile succumbs to total confusion, simply don’t trust everything you read about negative facts about wine and health. The wine industry will also need to anticipate changing trends in how wine is perceived by various demographic groups.

The elephant in the room today, which no one in the media wants to talk about, is the effects of cannabis: smoking or ingesting. Many of those who yell about the negative effects of wine seem to ignore cannabis. So why aren’t the media and researchers in a full-blown frontal attack on the health effects of cannabis? The general impression that many accept is that cannabis is physiologically harmless, to the point that people in the media and the government dismiss research to the contrary. Even some wines and beers now come with chemical compounds from cannabis.

Sam Blanchard, writing for Mail online on April 4, 2019, comments on a study on alcohol written by Professor Kent Hutchison of the University of Colorado Boulder, who said, “While marijuana can have some negative consequences as well, it definitely doesn’t come close to the consequences. negative alcohol “. “The problem is that the study also raises many more questions than the selective facts show. One question would be: Why was alcohol studied in people who experienced binge drinking while the participating marijuana users were in their most casual users? ” ask Blanchard.

Bottom line: Is cannabis entering the wine industry setting a trap for wine? The answer probably lies in how the industry responds.

Snowden makes an additional point worth considering. When comparing research on alcohol-related cancers with indigenous cancers of smokers, there does not appear to be any statistical or epidemiological relevance. “Epidemiological studies have shown a strong and consistent association between moderate alcohol consumption and lower mortality, mainly thanks to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. So, on the one hand, we have decades of epidemiological evidence backed by biological experiments showing that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of death from heart disease by 15% to 30%, and on the other hand, we have moderate consumption of alcohol. body of epidemiological evidence suggesting that moderate alcohol consumption may have a small effect on breast cancer risk, “Snowden explained.

Whatever the reason, portraying any alcoholic product as evil has been a part of the American landscape since the late 1800s. The prohibition emerged in 1919 and lasted until 1933. It seems that all industries have an “anti” influence that drives the momentum of the cause. We find these kinds of forces in politics, religion, and even medicine. Now the wine is under a new attack; positive research is discarded and “anti” is the celebrity-cause. (Anti is defined as: people who oppose a party, politics, attitude, etc.)

Here’s some dated but still welcome news. “Red wine and the antioxidant in red wine called resveratrol can be heart healthy,” says Mayo Clinic staff. “Several studies have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit the heart, not just the alcohol found in red wine.”

Regardless of what is driving the current research and conversation on wine and alcohol, it is a fact that the conversation has moved from one that promotes moderation in alcohol consumption to one that proclaims that alcohol at any level is destructive. for the body. But why would someone now dismiss and even ignore the positive research on the benefits of wine? There are articles on the web about the benefits of wine, such as Tehrene Firman’s “80 Amazing Benefits of Wine” from October 2017. Some of the most prominent benefits of wine relate to heart health and cognitive function. However, the contradictions in the studies are obvious and prevalent and are widely believed; lack of robust research methods.

On the contrary, I found an article that highlights 23 negative effects of wine / alcohol when consumed in excess. The key word is “excess”. The key to internalizing all the negative studies on wine and alcohol is that most of the studies denote the problem of binge drinking. As noted, it is also a fact that people have died from excessive water consumption.

It was interesting to see how far people will go to brutalize wine. A negative article, which points out the negative effects of wine, due to the types of chemicals used in the vineyards. But isn’t that true for most all food produced on the ground? Strange sense of logic. Current wisdom about alcohol, especially about health, is subject to change; and it will probably change.

The alcoholic beverage industry has several genres: beer, spirits, wine, and kombucha; even within these there are variations such as cider and hybrid blends. Kombucha is an interesting drink because it is positioned as a “healthy” drink that is a fermented product of tea and contains various levels of alcohol; some up to 7%. So is there a contradiction in which kombucha is positioned as healthy? It is consumed by people who proclaim the health benefits of this drink; but it still contains alcohol.

Perhaps any course of action or response from the wine industry could be an overreaction. Consider, maybe inaction sparked Prohibition?

If a renewed approach to the wine industry is deemed appropriate, the response must be timely, informed, fact-based, continuous, and aware of a changing market; The “anti” causes always live and require answers. Also, recognize that millennial alcohol users are concerned about alcohol levels and health problems. These 2 features are relatively new to the mix.

Still, what drives people to wine as a drink is:

  • Sociality

  • Entertainment: Enjoy and comply with the food.

  • Celebration-Wine is the oldest alcoholic beverage and throughout the years it has always been part of celebrations and commemorations.

  • Culture – Many cultures have elevated wine to be the premium drink with food, family, and entertainment.

Wandering for a moment. The subject of cannabis is not raised to confuse the subject that alcohol is purported (by some) to be totally harmful to the body under all circumstances. It’s just being pointed out that most investigations are occasionally used as weapons to make a point based on an “anti” cause. Research still highlights that most people believe that “marijuana” has many negative cultural effects.

Mainly, the problems with alcohol consumption seem to be more notable in the wine sector. The consumption of craft spirits in recent years has increased as well as craft beers. The wine has experienced a slight setback. “Wine Intelligence” reports a 5% drop in millennials who drink wine and, overall, there has been a 35% decrease in adults who drink wine at least once a month.

In German-speaking Switzerland, surveys from 2013 found that 39% drank wine and in 2017 the wine-drinking population dropped to 27%.

Drinks Business reported in March 2019 that UK wine consumption decreased by 2% -2016 compared to 2017. They attribute the decrease to: American whiskey; demand for lower and non-alcoholic beverage preferences; and moderate consumption.

No one is recommending a campaign by alcohol producers to promote alcohol consumption. That said, wine is a unique drink with a specific consumer profile, unlike beer and spirits. The wine industry could consider a personalized message for millennials; a demographic that shows a decrease in wine consumption. (Research indicates that millennials are more aware / receptive to health messages, costs, and consumption of alternative non-alcoholic beverages.)

When a company stops growing, it begins to die; an appointment that has existed. However, there is a degree of truth to this discussion. To ensure growth, perhaps the wine industry can dedicate time and resources to promoting and reinforcing the message that wine has the longest history of all alcoholic beverages. The positive research on the benefits of wine is impressive, well documented, and has a heritage in many cultures. Wine does not come close to inheritance or contribution to society like tobacco does. I doubt the voracity of any effort to make wine the new tobacco.

Health!