RETHINK THE DRINK

Newsflash: heavy drinking is bad for our health. But what with one global pandemic-related thing and another, Brits are showing no sign of slowing down. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 7,423 deaths from alcohol misuse in 2020 – a rise of 20% from the previous year. But while even moderate-to-heavy drinking can have damaging effects on everything from quality of life, to productivity and relationships, what about the occasional evening tipple, or odd night out?

The science

Alcohol, or ethanol, is produced by the fermentation of grains, fruits, or