Politics of Wine and Health
Current Public Policy encourages abstinence over moderation. This is primarily due to human sociological problems rather than medical and physiological recommendations. The differences between the two have politicized the issue, making it a hot topic among doctors and wine lovers.
The Role of Politics in Wine and Health
Wine and health have been linked in many civilizations for thousands of years. It is, therefore, difficult to form generalized social policies on this issue. It is a fine line that can easily be blurred by an individual’s irresponsible behavior. This is where the politics of wine and health come into play.
There are approximately 20 million people in America who drink enough to disrupt their lives. For this reason, many doctors have been hesitant to recommend drinking moderately to their patients. There may be potential legal concerns with this kind of medical recommendation.
This is one of the major reasons that the data on moderate wine consumption does not get more widespread media and professional attention. Alcohol abuse is a heavily politicized issue that no doctor wants to be accused of encouraging. However, each individual case should be weighed independently.
Because alcohol abuse has such massive societal repercussions, it is difficult for doctors to recommend drinking at all. Each individual must realize the relationship of risk-reward in regards to increasing levels of consumption. Doctors are swayed by the politics affecting wine and health.
Then there is the issue of whether moderate wine consumption actually makes us healthier. Does a certain person with a whole array of beneficial health practices typically consume wine moderately?
Moderate wine drinkers are generally more affluent and educated than the rest of the population. It is difficult to definitively determine if it is the wine consumption or a generally healthy lifestyle that causes these health benefits.
These issues are in limbo, and have as many interpretations as there are people. Because alcohol abuse is fundamentally intertwined with moderate alcohol consumption, a change in policy does not seem to be on the horizon. These are the issues facing the discussion of politics and health for the foreseeable future.
Related Articles
