Enjoy good wine in moderation .......

"Life is too short to drink cheap wine !!"

Australian Alcohol Guidelines : Health Risks and Benefits (2001)
National Health and Medical Research Council
"It is anticipated that the Australian Alcohol Guidelines will be officially launched in the near future. The Australian Alcohol Guidelines have been placed on the NHMRC website prior to a launch as it is the policy of the NHMRC to ensure that its most up-to-date public health and medical advice is available to all Australians."
 
You can read then rest of this synopsis on-line here: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/ds9syn.htm
 
You can download the complete publication here:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/pdf/ds9.pdf  (958 kb .. right-click & "Save As")
by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
 
Here is part of the first of twelve guidelines:

GUIDELINE 1

To minimise risks in the short and longer term, and gain any longer-term benefits

For men

1.1 an average of no more than 4 standard drinks a day, and no more than 28 standard drinks over a week;

1.2 not more than 6 standard drinks in any one day;

1.3 one or two alcohol-free days per week.

For women

1.4 an average of no more than 2 standard drinks a day, and no more than 14 standard drinks over a week;

1.5 not more than 4 standard drinks in any one day;

1.6 one or two alcohol-free days per week.

The guidelines are based on an Australian Standard Drink, which contains 10 grams (equivalent to 12.5 millilitres) of alcohol.
100 ml of wine (12.5% alc/vol) contains one Australian Standard Drink.
A restaurant glass of wine (180 ml) contains 1.8 Australian Standard Drinks.
Many wines contain more than 12.5% alc/vol.

Note:
These drinks should be spread over several hours. It is assumed that the drinks are consumed at a moderate rate to minimise intoxication, e.g. for men no more than 2 drinks in the first hour and 1 per hour thereafter, and for women, no more than 1 drink per hour.
This guideline assumes that the drinker is not on medication, does not have a family history of alcohol-related problems or a condition that is made worse by drinking, is not pregnant and, is not about to undertake any activity involving risk or a degree of skill, including driving, flying, water sports, ski-ing, or using complex or heavy machinery or farm machinery, etc.

Rationale:

Drinking within the average drinking levels set in guidelines 1.1 for men and 1.4 for women minimises the longer-term risks of ill health and death related to alcohol, and maximises the potential longer-term health benefits. The levels are based on strong evidence ………….

And from pages 67~68 of the report .......
....... Essentially, the evidence suggests that low to moderate regular drinking, particularly when it occurs with meals, affords partial protection against heart disease and heart attack for people of middle age and older; while heavy drinking (both episodic and long-term) markedly increases the risk of heart attack. .......
 
NOTE:
This publication (Cat. No. 0145408, $16.95) is also available from your nearest Government Info Bookshop.
Mail Order Sales:
AusInfo
GPO Box 84
CANBERRA ACT 2601
... see http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/ausinfo.htm for the order form.

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