The extensively examined study has become engulfed in debate.
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A contentious federal research project, which could impact public health recommendations, has found that even modest alcohol intake is linked to an increased risk of mortality.
The study, published by a group called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), is the latest chapter in a fierce debate over the health risks of drinking, and has attracted significant criticism during the past year. In response to the report’s publication, U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (D-Napa), said in a statement on Wednesday, “It’s concerning that the agencies in charge of researching and producing our updated dietary guidelines created a new, less transparent review process to issue alcohol consumption guidance to Americans.”
The ICCPUD research is one of two reports that will shape the 2025 update of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, a key document that significantly impacts the eating and drinking behaviors of Americans. Since 1980, federal dietary recommendations have indicated that women can safely consume one alcoholic beverage per day, while men are advised to limit their intake to two drinks daily.
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However, the conclusions drawn by ICCPUD conflict with those presented in a separate report released in December by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). This report indicated that individuals who consume alcohol in moderation have a reduced risk of mortality compared to those who abstain from drinking. NASEM determined that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased rates of cardiovascular disease, while it does correlate with an increased risk of breast cancer, but not with other types of cancer.
The recently released 81-page report states that “even low levels of average alcohol consumption carry a risk of death,” and notes that “increased alcohol intake is associated with a greater risk of mortality.”
According to the report, individuals who drink over seven beverages weekly face a 1 in 1,000 risk of mortality. When consumption exceeds nine drinks per week, this risk rises to 1 in 100. Additionally, the study revealed that those who have one drink daily are at a heightened risk for liver cirrhosis, esophageal cancer, oral cancer, and injuries, although they experience a decreased risk of stroke.
The report echoes concerns of the U.S. surgeon general, who issued a warning earlier this month linking alcohol to at least seven types of cancer. “Increased risk for these cancers begins with any alcohol use and increases with higher levels of use,” the ICCPUD report said. It added that women “experience a much greater risk of an alcohol-attributable cancer per drink consumed.”
The alcohol sector and its supporters have argued that the ICCPUD study faced problems from the very beginning. Despite Congress allocating $1.3 million for the revision of the dietary guidelines for 2025, meant to support the National Academies' research on various food-related topics, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services established a separate panel — ICCPUD — to focus specifically on alcohol research.
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Opponents of this initiative, such as Rep. Thompson, have labeled the ICCPUD study as “redundant,” while the Appropriations Committees of both the House and Senate contend that it is unsuitable for an agency focused on preventing underage drinking to investigate the alcohol consumption habits of adults.
On Wednesday, Science Over Bias, a diverse alliance representing various sectors of agriculture, beverages, and hospitality, expressed their disapproval of the ICCPUD report, labeling it as “full of bias and conflicts of interest.” The coalition voiced their apprehension that any modifications to the guidelines would “not be grounded in a substantial foundation of credible scientific evidence.”
The alcohol industry has raised concerns regarding the composition of the ICCPUD panel, noting that all six members are specialists in substance use disorders, lacking expertise in the broader health impacts of alcohol. Additionally, two panelists have openly expressed their view that there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume, while another has received financial support from Movendi International, a religious organization that advocates for abstaining from alcohol.
Various organizations interpreted the ICCPUD findings as an important alert regarding the risks associated with alcohol consumption. "The ICCPUD report underscores the urgent necessity to mitigate alcohol-related harms by effectively educating the public about the health dangers linked to drinking," stated Tiffany Hall, chair of the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance, in a Wednesday announcement. "It's imperative that the harmful effects of any level of alcohol intake are acknowledged and addressed."
How either of the new reports may impact the upcoming dietary guidelines remains unclear. There is a widespread expectation that the forthcoming update, due by the end of 2025, may revise the longstanding recommendation that 1-2 drinks a day is safe. It is possible, though uncertain, that the guidelines could echo the World Health Organization’s 2022 declaration that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
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The surgeon general recently called for cancer warnings to be added to alcoholic beverage labels, but that would require congressional approval and is outside the purview of the dietary guidelines.
Reach Esther Mobley: [email protected], Reach Jess Lander: [email protected]
