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>and the numbers of cases is so small that one might question its statistical significance.

You clearly miss the point. The fact is that liver disease is increasingly significantly in age groups it was not historically a problem in. This was widely reported in the UK last year, I may not have picked the best article.

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The rate of occurrence may be increasing, but the rate at which persons are being diagnosed may also play a role, as may changes to the rates at which person's seek treatment.

In other words, a 32 year old with a beer belly might be more likely to be diagnosed based on a doctor's increased awareness, or may be more likely to be diagnosed because of more frequent visits to the doctor.

And even if those do not play a role, a case has not been made that special regulations with regard to alcohol are a better solution than other alternatives.

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