Despite many studies over the years showing the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the booze is not your friend:

They found that the nondrinkers had many more risks for heart disease - such as being overweight, inactive, high blood pressure and diabetes -- than the moderate drinkers.

Based on those results, the agency still could not say that moderate drinking actually was a factor in reducing the risk of heart disease...

"We're feeling the pendulum has swung way too far and Americans are getting sort of the wrong idea" on alcohol, said the study's lead author, Dr. Tim Naimi of the CDC's chronic diseases division. "The science around moderate drinking is very murky."

Moderate drinkers tended to be in better health, better educated, wealthier and more active than their nondrinking counterparts, and that likely influenced their lower risk of heart disease, the study said.

"It appears that moderate drinkers have many social and lifestyle characteristics that favor their survival over nondrinkers and few of these differences are likely due to alcohol consumption itself," the study said.

Okay, so let's see if I understand this:
1. Moderate drinkers have healthier lifestyles than nondrinkers.
2. The fact they drink has nothing to do with it.
Possible disconnect there? How does that make any sense at all?

Isn't it possible that moderate drinking helps reduce stress?
Isn't it possible that the socializing that accompanies moderate drinking leads to greater career opportunities, and thus better income?
Isn't it possible that people who don't drink feel more tempted to overindulge in the foods that make them fat?
Isn't it possible that the metabolic effects of alcohol (processing it burns more calories than does digestion of any other type of food or beverage) help moderate drinkers maintain their weight?

Something tells me that this research won't pass the test of time.