The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration, was released Tuesday in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs after the Trump administration decided not to feature its findings in the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Associated Press reported. The researchers said the administration faced pushback from the alcohol industry and a congressional committee.
The research found that health risks rise with consumption of just one drink per day and that no level of alcohol provides a protective effect against mortality. Even levels widely considered moderate — up to one drink daily for women and two for men — increase the risk of premature death and are associated with more than 200 diseases, including heart disease and cancer, the study’s authors said.
The findings align with a growing body of evidence that has undermined the longstanding notion that moderate drinking offers cardiovascular benefits. In recent years, major health organizations including the World Health Organization have classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, in the same category as asbestos and tobacco.
The decision to publish the study independently, rather than through the federal dietary guidelines process, could limit its reach in shaping public health messaging. The dietary guidelines are used to inform federal nutrition programs, school lunch standards, and advice from doctors.
The study was completed by a team of researchers tasked with reviewing alcohol’s health effects for the 2025-2030 guidelines update. The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the decision to exclude the study from the guidelines.