Federally commissioned U.S. alcohol-risk study is published independently after exclusion from new dietary guidelines
The Facts
- A study commissioned by the U.S. government on alcohol-related health harms was published independently in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs after it was not incorporated into the latest U.S. dietary guidelines.
- Multiple reports say the Trump administration chose not to feature or consider the study's findings in the new dietary guidelines released earlier this year.
- The study found that even one drink a day increases health risks and that no level of alcohol consumption showed a protective effect on mortality.
- The researchers reported that drinking at levels often described as moderate was associated with higher risks of premature death and more than 200 diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
- The study estimated the lifetime risk of dying from an alcohol-related cause at at least 1 in 1,000 for Americans who have one drink per day, rising to 1 in 100 for those who consume two drinks per day.
- Reports say the study was one of two government reviews intended to inform the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, making its exclusion relevant to how federal drinking advice was set.
- Current federal guidance advises Americans to consume less alcohol for better overall health, while another review cited in coverage reached more favorable conclusions about moderate drinking than this study did.
- Alcohol industry groups opposed the study and challenged its methodology, contributing to an unresolved dispute over how its findings should influence U.S. alcohol guidance.
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- A government-commissioned review found meaningful health risks even at low levels of drinking, and its exclusion from the dietary-guidelines process matters because federal alcohol advice was supposed to be informed by that evidence.
- They split on
- Whether the story is about federal guidance failing to reflect evidence that even moderate drinking carries broad health harms, or about the need to avoid turning a methodologically disputed review into stronger official claims than the guidelines adopted.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What did the study conclude about low or moderate drinking?
The study concluded that health risks increase even at one drink a day, that no level of alcohol showed a protective effect on mortality, and that moderate drinking was linked to higher risks of premature death and many diseases Eagle-Tribune,U.S. News & World R….
Why is this study getting attention now?
It was commissioned to help inform U.S. dietary guidance but was published independently only after the Trump administration did not include its findings in the new guidelines issued earlier this year Investing.com,PBS.org.
What is still disputed?
The role this study should play in federal guidance remains contested because the alcohol industry says its methodology is flawed, while another government-linked review reached different conclusions about moderate drinking Investing.com,NZ Herald.
View all 54 sources
Wire services (3)
Independent coverage (50)
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FemalefirstOne alcoholic drink a day linked to higher risk of disease a...
ArkansasOnlineUS guidelines lack feature of findings in drinking risks stu...
Belfast LiveNew health warning for anyone having just one glass of beer ...
Cambridge News OnlineNew health warning for anyone having just one glass of beer ...
NZ HeraldHealth risks of alcohol accelerate after one drink a day, st...
USA TodayCasual drinker? You still have a 1 in 25 risk of dying, stud...
Yahoo!Casual drinker? You still have a 1 in 25 risk of dying, stud...
Mirage NewsLow Alcohol Intake Tied to Health Risks: Study
NewsMaxStudy: Even Low Levels of Alcohol Harm Health
Sentinel ColoradoA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
The HillThe White House blocked a study on alcohol consumption. This...
The Philadelphia InquirerA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. U.S. g...
PhillyVoiceNo amount of alcohol is safe to drink, new study says -- cou...
PBS.orgNew study recommends 1 alcoholic drink per day. Its research...
Anchorage Daily NewsWhat a study at odds with Trump officials' health guidance f...
Drugs.comHow Much Alcohol Is Actually Safe? A New Study Challenges Ol...
WCPOWhat you call 'moderate' drinking may be riskier than you th...
Floyd Chronicle & TimesGlass of wine, beer daily enough to raise cancer, heart dise...
CBC NewsA U.S. government study found alcohol risks, but new guideli...
AudacyNew alcohol recommendations may be shocking
YahooWhat a Study Sidelined by the Trump Administration Found Abo...
medicalnewstoday.comEven 1 drink a day linked to higher risk of death, cancer, s...
DNyuzA Biden-era study told Americans to drink less alcohol. The ...
Pulse24.com A government-commissioned study found drinking risks. U.S. g...
FortuneA Biden-era study told Americans to drink less alcohol. The ...
The ColumbianA government-commissioned study found drinking risks but U.S...
Mail OnlineHow many drinks a week are linked with cancer, heart disease...
The Daily BeastRFK Jr.'s Alcohol Advice Hit by Sobering Reality Check
GV WireFederal Study Calls for One-Drink Daily Limit on Alcohol
96.5 WKLH - Milwaukee's Hometown Rock 96.5A government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
Times ColonistA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
castanetkamloops.netA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
AccessWDUNA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
U.S. News & World ReportHow Much Alcohol Is Actually Safe? A New Study Challenges Ol...
The IndependentNew study finds there may be no "safe" level of alcohol cons...
WRALA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
NewsdayA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
Eagle-TribuneA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
My NorthwestA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
Bangor Daily NewsA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
YahooA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
Greenfield Daily ReporterA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
KSATA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. US gui...
The Philadelphia InquirerHealth risks of alcohol accelerate after one drink a day, st...
MedPage TodayU.S. Guidelines Didn't Feature Government-Commissioned Study...
TribLIVEA government-commissioned study found drinking risks. U.S. g...
News-Medical.netModerate alcohol consumption linked to premature death and c...
Yahoo! HealthAdults should have no more than one drink a day, a team of s...
U.S. News & World ReportA Government-Commissioned Study Found Drinking Risks. US Gui...
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