With C, the sentence wouldbe:
Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest when alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis, rather than consuming it on binges .
The idiom used is clearly..when alcohol is X rather than Y.. . So, the structure in C is:
When alcohol is:
a) taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis
rather than
b) consuming it on binges.
In other words:
a) When alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular
...
Scientific evidence suggests that the benefits arising from consumption of alcohol are greatest when alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis, rather than consuming it on binges .
The idiom used is clearly..when alcohol is X rather than Y.. . So, the structure in C is:
When alcohol is:
a) taken with meals on a moderate, regular basis
rather than
b) consuming it on binges.
In other words:
a) When alcohol is taken with meals on a moderate, regular
...