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Sensible drinking: Report of an inter-departmental working group

This report sets out the findings of an interdepartmental group of officials set up to carry out a review of the Government's sensible drinking message in the light of evidence which indicated that drinking alcohol might give protection from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), and what it considers these mean for the sensible drinking message. The Group has carried out its analysis and reached conclusions in the context of the United Kingdom. The conclusions are based on an objective evaluation of the evidence, but the Group has not sought to answer all the questions and resolve all the issues in a complex and controversial field where knowledge continues to develop. Its remit has rather been to analyse the present state of knowledge for the Government's consideration than to advance scientific analysis in this specialist area. The Group has also sought to indicate the areas of uncertainty which are relevant to its remit. it is important that here, as in other areas of public health, the limitations of the knowledge on which advice is offered to the public should be recognised.