"Alcohol might be safe in moderation, but we don't have the research to know for sure."

Not exactly the most interesting of articles.

In my books Strange Planet has it right with labeling it "Mild Poison". Kind of changed the relationship for me the odd time I do drink socially.

Hmmm

Still, as even they say, the less the safer. I'd say go after the low hanging fruit of binge drinkers (of which there are many).long before going after those of us who drink moderately.

less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week.

The WHO considers that light? Holy crap... so if you're drinking 2 bottles of wine yourself per week you're a "light drinker"

The scarring from all the heavy coughing etc?

Still, rather not have all that sitting there for 10 years. The liver recovers from a few pints a lot quicker I believe, and even in the less favourable case of a fatty liver, a matter of weeks of abstienence rather than years. Disease of either, is probably a more dangerous situation.