German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach warned against the consumption of even small amounts of alcohol. He stated that the assertion that one or two glasses of wine per day can be beneficial for health needs to be revised. According to Lauterbach, clear study results show that the risk of cancer, for example, already increases with the first glass of wine. This is in contrast to what epidemiologists had long hoped for and the minister expressed his disappointment.
Despite his warning, Lauterbach himself still consumes wine regularly, describing himself as a “wine enthusiast.” However, he emphasized that he never gets drunk, citing his family history as a reason for his self-discipline. His father had struggled with significant alcohol problems and Lauterbach learned early on the importance of willpower in avoiding excessive drinking.
Separately, the minister defended the legalization of cannabis, which was passed by the failed grand coalition. He described the legislation as “generally right” stating that it is an attempt to acknowledge the reality of cannabis use. Lauterbach noted that there have been no indications of increased consumption since the law was passed and the hope is to drive the black market back by making the legal market more attractive.
The minister also criticized the criminalization of many people for cannabis use, arguing that it is not justified in light of the fact that more harmful behavior, such as excessive alcohol consumption, is not punished. Lauterbach believes it would be better to make the use of cannabis safer if it is going to happen anyway.