There are well-known problems inherent in most observational studies of alcohol and health. As well as having to rely on self-reporting of intake, these include single-time point consumption assessments, inadequate confounder adjustments, accounting for reverse causation, selection bias, short follow-up, residual confounding and lacking information on chronic health conditions that may mediate the association between alcohol consumption and mortality.
Does moderate alcohol consumption in later life reduce the risk of mortality? – International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research Critique 232
There are well-known problems inherent in most observational studies of alcohol and health. As well as having to rely on self-reporting of intake, these include single-time point consumption assessments, inadequate confounder adjustments, accounting for reverse causation, selection bias, short follow-up, residual confounding and lacking information on chronic health conditions that may mediate the association between alcohol consumption and mortality.