A major US government-commissioned study on the health effects of alcohol has concluded that even low levels of drinking increase the risk of disease and premature death, challenging long-held beliefs about the safety of moderate alcohol consumption. The study, titled the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, was published independently on June 9 after the Trump administration decided not to feature its findings in the upcoming update to the nation's dietary guidelines.
The research was originally commissioned under the Biden administration in 2023 and carried out under the oversight of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, known as SAMHSA. It was initially intended to inform the next revision of the US Dietary Guidelines, which shape nutrition policy across schools, hospitals, and military institutions. However, the current administration chose to sideline the findings following significant pushback from the alcohol industry and a congressional committee that questioned the study's scope.
The central conclusion of the study is that no level of alcohol consumption has a protective effect on overall mortality. Researchers found that moderate drinking raises the risk of premature death and more than 200 diseases, including various forms of heart disease and several types of cancer. The findings directly contradict earlier studies that suggested a glass of wine per day might offer cardiovascular benefits, a notion the researchers say was based on flawed methodology.
According to the data, individuals who consume 14 alcoholic drinks per week face a mortality risk of approximately 1 in 25. For those drinking up to 7 drinks per week, the elevated risks for most health conditions remain only minimally above baseline, though they are still measurable. The study emphasizes that even at these lower consumption levels, the overall health trajectory is worse compared to abstaining entirely.
The decision by the Trump administration to exclude the study from the dietary guidelines update has drawn criticism from public health advocates and medical professionals. They argue that withholding evidence-based findings from the public undermines the purpose of federal nutrition guidance. Several leading health organizations have called on the administration to reconsider, stating that Americans deserve access to the most current scientific evidence when making personal health decisions.
The alcohol industry has long lobbied against stricter health warnings and more conservative drinking guidelines. Industry representatives have questioned the methodology of the SAMHSA study, arguing that it does not adequately account for lifestyle factors that differentiate moderate drinkers from heavy drinkers. Despite these objections, the research team has defended its approach, noting that the study employed rigorous controls and drew from a comprehensive dataset spanning multiple years.
Comments