Exonerated! Exonerated!

In a small step for a scientist, but a giant leap for health care, the results of this research will force us all to move to the brave new world of XXI century.

Controlling only for age and gender, compared to moderate drinkers, abstainers had a more than 2 times increased mortality risk, heavy drinkers had 70% increased risk, and light drinkers had 23% increased risk. A model controlling for former problem drinking status, existing health problems, and key sociodemographic and social-behavioral factors, as well as for age and gender, substantially reduced the mortality effect for abstainers compared to moderate drinkers. However, even after adjusting for all covariates, abstainers and heavy drinkers continued to show increased mortality risks of 51 and 45%, respectively, compared to moderate drinkers.

If the above looked somewhat complicated to you, here it comes in another arrangement:

The 1,824 participants were followed for 20 years.... Just over 69% of the abstainers died during the 20 years, 60% of the heavy drinkers died and only 41% of moderate drinkers died.

I hope that by now the penny dropped. If not, you might be a conscientious abstainer and should visit your doctor as soon as possible to discuss the drink that is most suited to your needs. Meanwhile, here comes a picture of my favorite drink:

To learn which one it is and to find your own, visit here.

Your health!

And now - to tobacco...