A Couple a Day Can Keep a Heart Attack at Bay. Even one can reduces risk of disease by a quarter

Madlen Davies reports:

On a sunny day, there is nothing as delicious as a cool, crisp beer.

And drinking a pint a day is good for the heart, a study has found.

While binge drinking is known to harm our health, moderate consumption reduces the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases by a quarter, researchers discovered.

The team, from the IRCCS Mediterranean Neurological Institute, Pozzilli, said the alcohol and other chemicals in the drink reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and artery disease.

They reviewed 150 studies and concluded drinking 1.4 pints or two 330ml cans protect the heart without increasing the odds of dementia or cancers, the Times reports.

Yet, many politicians refer to alcohol taxes as "sin taxes".