Yeah, that's one of the reasons why laypersons shouldnt really read studies in isolation. A single study isnt the whole picture, and isnt meant to be. It is meant to ask and answer a specific question that can fit into the whole picture of our understanding.

I think there is something of a secular neo-temperance movement going on right now, where people talk about how alcohol is soooo bad for you. And to be sure, alcohol is bad for you - anyone who's had a hangover can tell you that. But life doesn't have to be about being "optimally healthy", and sacrificing a bit of health for a bit of fun is totally reasonable - you could say all the same things about, say, chocolate cake.