Moderate drinking may have no health benefits after all

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WPVI) -- You might want to skip that glass of red wine with dinner, or at least have a little less.

Experts are giving second thoughts to the health benefits of moderate drinking.

A new review of 53,000 people in Britain found little to no health benefit from alcohol consumption.

It found that most moderate drinkers weren't any healthier than non-drinkers, once the results were adjusted for personal, economic, and lifestyle factors.

Only women 65 and over even got a slight benefit.

Doctors who did this review say past studies had a serious flaw.

They lumped non-drinkers with ex-drinkers, who generally have more health problems and a greater risk of dying early.

And they advise anyone who is drinking for their health should cut their consumption or quit altogether.

Alcohol has been linked to many other health problems, such as high blood pressure.

And it can be lethal when it is mixed with prescription medications.

The study is published in the February 10 issue of the British Medical Journal.