Ms Kathryn Reilly:

The easiest thing to say to put us in no doubt, and as mentioned in the substantive document Professor Ivan Perry produced on preventing cardiovascular disease, is that the results from large-cohort studies show no amount of alcohol is protective against cardiovascular disease. We have all heard in sensationalising media that there are protective effects, but there are not. We know from research, a UK Biobank study with Mendelian randomisation, that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the amount of alcohol taken and that there is no protective effect. This is something we wanted to get across during the passage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. An increased intake of alcohol has an effect in terms of atrial fibrillation, stroke and various cardiovascular diseases. We have to say very loudly and clearly, based on research, that there is no safe level.