Key facts
- A government-commissioned study found that health risks from alcohol consumption increase with just one drink per day.
- The study concluded that no level of alcohol consumption offers a protective effect on mortality.
- Researchers identified over 200 diseases, including heart disease and cancer, linked to even moderate alcohol intake.
- The findings were not incorporated into the latest U.S. dietary guidelines.
- The Trump administration faced criticism for allegedly sidelining the research due to industry and political pushback.
A government-commissioned study investigating the health harms of alcohol consumption was released independently after the Trump administration opted not to include its findings in new dietary guidelines. The study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, aligns with existing research suggesting that health risks escalate with even one drink per day and that no level of alcohol intake is protective against mortality. Researchers found that moderate drinking levels are associated with an increased risk of premature death and over 200 diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
The study was one of two government reviews intended to inform the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. While the released guidelines advised consuming "less alcohol for better overall health," the authors of the independently published study argue this advice lacked specific, practical guidance on drinking risks. Robert Vincent, a former Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration official who led the study, accused the Trump administration of "sidelining" the research, an allegation the administration denies. Vincent stated that he was asked to "kill the study" during his tenure but refused.
The alcohol industry actively campaigned against the study's findings after a draft report was released last year, aiming to discredit its work. The House oversight committee also criticized the study, labeling it "fraught with bias" and suggesting predetermined conclusions. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services stated that the study was reviewed alongside other scientific evidence in accordance with the established process for developing the dietary guidelines, emphasizing that the guidelines are informed by the totality of the scientific record.
Study authors, including Dr. Timothy Naimi and Priscilla Martinez-Matyszczyk, maintain that their findings support a more detailed recommendation for current adult drinkers to consume one drink or fewer per day. They also addressed concerns about the social benefits of drinking, noting that their research focused specifically on alcohol-attributable mortality to avoid confounding factors. The findings are consistent with other recent research, such as a 2019 Lancet study, which indicated that moderate drinking offered no health benefits and slightly increased risks for conditions like stroke and high blood pressure.