January 9, 2003 -- Okay, now this is getting old. A new report in the New England Journal of Medicine has joined the dozens published in recent years stating that moderate alcohol consumption can have positive health benefits. The difference in this one is that it states that it's the frequency of the consumption that yields heart benefits, rather than the type or quantity of beverage consumed.

According to Dr. Kenneth Mukamal of Harvard University Medical School, who led the study, the "surprise" was that "almost regardless of other factors associated with drinking — frequency of use seemed to be what reduced the subsequent risk of a heart attack."

The Harvard study found that those who drank between one-half and four drinks on at least three separate occasions per week experienced about one-third fewer heart attacks than did nondrinkers. Those who imbibed only once or twice a week had only a 16 percent lower risk of a heart attack.

(More complete details may be found at http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030109_359.html)

Well, duh.

Perhaps it's time that scientists started looking less at the physical effects of alcohol on the body and began instead addressing the psychological impact of a drink or two during stressful times. As anybody who enjoys a quality beer now and then well knows, a relaxing pint among friends, or a fine ale with dinner, is just the thing for taking the edge off a trying day. And if, as doctors say, stress is a major contributor to all kinds of disease, then it shouldn't take long for even a layman to connect the dots and come to the conclusion that an occasional drink or two can have all sorts of health benefits.

At least, it works for me.

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