Health warnings about alcohol give only half the story
Enjoyment matters as well as risk

For many people, the new year brings both a banging hangover and a solemn resolution never to get drunk again. More than a decade ago Alcohol Change UK, which campaigns to cut drinking, launched its “Dry January” campaign. This year it reckons a third of British men will try to stick to it.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “How to think about the demon drink”

From the January 11th 2025 edition
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