There is an opinion that alcoholic beverages may help in the prevention and treatment of colds. How justified is this and what risks may arise?
Alcohol is an effective antiseptic that can destroy pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces at concentrations of 15-20%. However, consuming alcoholic beverages raises doubts as a method for preventing and treating colds. What do scientific studies say about this?
Two major studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption cannot cure a cold, but it may help in its prevention. One study conducted by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in 1993 involved 391 adults. The analysis found that moderate — this is an important point — alcohol consumption increases resistance to colds. However, this does not apply to smokers.
In 2002, Spanish researchers studied 4,300 healthy adults, analyzing their habits and susceptibility to colds. The results of the study, published in The American Journal of Epidemiology, found no link between cold incidence and the consumption of beer, spirits, vitamin C, or zinc.
Consuming 8 to 14 glasses of red wine per week was associated with a 60% reduction in the risk of developing cold-related illnesses. The scientists suggested that this might be related to the antioxidant properties of wine. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that both studies are statistical, and their results do not allow for definitive claims about causal relationships.
Correlation between events does not imply that one necessarily follows from the other, as cold incidence is influenced not only by alcoholic beverages but also by many other factors. Therefore, we recommend using proven treatment methods rather than relying on alcohol.
