Moderate drinking not better for health than abstaining, analysis suggests

Scientists found most previous studies did not take into account that some non-drinkers had cut down or quit through ill health. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

For the regular boozer it is a source of great comfort: the fat pile of studies that say a daily tipple is better for a longer life than avoiding alcohol completely.

But a new analysis challenges the thinking and blames the rosy message on flawed research that compares drinkers with people who are sick and sober.