Does alcohol have positive effects on health?

Moderate alcohol consumption has no positive effect on health - contrary to a number of studies - while heavy drinking doubles men's chances of dying from a stroke, research has found.

The large-scale study took place over 21 years, and while it confirmed that binge drinking is extremely bad for health, it contradicted studies showing reduced levels of heart disease among people who regularly drink a little.

There was no significant increase in the risk of heart disease among those drinking most, but men who drank more than 35 units - or 17 pints of beer - of alcohol a week had more than double the chance of dying from a stroke.

The Stroke Association, which funded the study, said the findings should raise awareness of the connection between alcohol and strokes, particularly among the young.

The team studied 5,766 men from various workplaces in Glasgow , Clydebank and Grangemouth over a 21-year period.

For non-drinkers and moderate drinkers - up to 14 units of alcohol a week - the risk of any cause of death was similar.

This was regardless of whether they drank beer, wine, or spirits.

However, people who drank more than 22 units a week - the equivalent of 11 pints of beer a week or half a bottle of wine a day - increased their chances of dying with every drink.