i don't think the national institute of health is "backed by the alcohol lobby", and they do disclose each and every one of their sources.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa16.htm
Benefits of Moderate Drinking
Psychological benefits of moderate drinking. A review of the literature (
suggests that lower levels of alcohol consumption can reduce stress; promote conviviality and pleasant and carefree feelings; and decrease tension, anxiety, and self-consciousness. In the elderly, moderate drinking has been reported to stimulate appetite, promote regular bowel function, and improve mood (7).
Cardiovascular benefits of moderate drinking. There is a considerable body of evidence that lower levels of drinking decrease the risk of death from co ronary artery disease (CAD). This effect has been demonstrated in a broad range of older epidemiologic studies (9). More recently, Boffetta and Garfinkel (10) found that white American men who reported in 1959 that they consumed an average of fewer than three drinks per day were less likely to die during the next 12 years than men who reported abstinence. This finding was due primarily to a reduction in CAD. In a similar study using a wide range of ethnic groups, De Labry and colleagues (11) found that rates of overall mortality were lowest for men who consumed fewer than three drinks per day over a 12-year period.