The former “Ambassador of Beer” Johannes Vogel (Free Democratic Party) was interviewed in the Tagesspiegel newspaper. He spoke about his role as “Ambassador of Beer” and the topic of alcohol. He said that the amount of alcohol is crucial and that people manage to consume a safe dose. This turns out to be largely false.
Johannes Vogel, Deputy Chairman of the FDP (Free Democratic Party), was appointed the new “Ambassador of Beer” of the German Brewers’ Association in June 2023. As an “Ambassador of Beer”, the ambassador represents the interests of the German brewing industry and advocates for the craftsmanship and middle class. The award is given to personalities who distinguish themselves through special commitment in politics, business, culture or the media.
When asked how he saw the danger of alcohol, he replied: “Every medical professional knows: The dose makes the poison. And when it comes to alcohol, most people manage to stay within a harmless dose.”
Dose effect and health risks
Alcohol is a cytotoxin that can be addictive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a class 1 carcinogen. This means that, from a scientific point of view, alcohol is cancer causing to humans. For comparison: asbestos, radiation and tobacco also belong to this class. Even the smallest intake of alcohol can pose a health risk.
Alcohol enters the body’s organs and tissues through the blood vessels and can increase the risk of various diseases when it is broken down. Alcohol is mainly broken down in the liver and undergoes several biochemical processes: First, the alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde. This substance is already dangerous for the body, as the amount of it in alcohol is carcinogenic. In a second step, this is then broken down into acetic acid. This acetic acid can attack cells and may increase the risk of cancer. Alcohol finally reaches organs and tissues through the blood vessels and increases the risk of various diseases when it is broken down in the body.
“In addition to the short-term effects of alcohol consumption, which promote accidents, injuries and violence, it also increases the risk of developing cancer, especially breast and colon cancer, cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and liver disease,” says Silke Restemeyer, press officer of the German Nutrition Society (DGE).
Germany and Europe in comparison
The latest data show that half of all alcohol-related cancers in the WHO’s European regions are caused by light to moderate alcohol consumption. This fact is alarming when you consider that, according to the German Cancer Research Center, 4% of all cancer cases are attributable to alcohol. The WHO on the other hand states that 9% of deaths are alcohol-related, with cardiovascular diseases playing a major role here. It is also important to mention that cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the European Union. According to the WHO, 2,200 people die every day from alcohol-related causes.

In Germany, 12.2 liters of alcohol are consumed per capita. In an international comparison, Germany is one of the high-consumption countries, which is confirmed by DGE position papers and WHO data. The average value worldwide is 5.5 liters per capita per year. Compared with European regions, the alcohol consumption is 9.2 liters. Germany consumes 12.2 liters per capita per year. That is more than double the average amount consumed around the world.
“The price of alcoholic beverages has a significant influence on the overall consumption of the population. Alcohol is inexpensive in Germany cheap compared to international standards,” says Stephanie Eckhardt, Head of the Addiction Prevention Unit at the Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA). A change in price could therefore have an impact on consumption in the population.
Prevention work can also help to reduce alcohol consumption. “In our position paper, we state that, overall, too little is being done in Germany to combat alcohol consumption: Although a large number of prevention campaigns and programs already exist in this country, Germany is below average in the implementation of measures when compared internationally,” explains Restemeyer. For example, it is difficult to reach people with a lower socio-economic status, as Eckhardt also mentions.
Self-control and consumer responsibility
Alcohol not only has negative effects on the body but also influences the psyche. When alcohol is consumed, it affects messenger substances in the brain, activates the reward system and releases hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. These trigger positive emotions. In small amounts, alcohol can lift the mood and have a relaxing effect; in larger quantities, it has a numbing effect. The craving for alcohol can be triggered in certain situations by conditioning the body to react to certain stimuli.
Conclusion
The consequences of alcohol consumption are versatile and range from injuries caused by accidents while drunk to various illnesses and mental health problems. Moreover, it is not only consumers who are affected by the consequences of alcohol; those around them can also suffer.
Vogel argues in the interview that alcohol must be consumed responsibly. He is aware of the effects and health problems due to his community service as a paramedic. So an addiction should be taken seriously.
Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that any alcohol consumption, regardless of the quantity, quality or price of the drink, is a health risk. From a scientific point of view, there is no such thing as a “risk-free dose”. Instead, the focus should be on education, prevention and the promotion of a responsible approach to alcohol in society. Vogel’s statement is therefore largely incorrect. Although the amount of alcohol consumed is crucial, there is no risk-free intake of alcohol.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE | Sofie Knorr, Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart, Germany
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