A long-awaited study on alcohol consumption, initially commissioned under the Biden administration in 2022 and later suppressed by the Trump administration, was finally published on Tuesday. The research, conducted by an international team from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, concludes that moderate drinking offers no protective health benefits and recommends that adults limit themselves to one drink or less per day.
The study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, found that even low levels of alcohol consumption carry risks. According to the researchers, the lifetime risk of one alcohol-attributable death per 1,000 people occurs at roughly seven drinks per week for both men and women, with risks increasing sharply beyond that threshold. When consumption reaches 14 drinks per week—the previous recommended maximum for men under the last Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)—the mortality risk jumps to one in 25.
“No protective effect of drinking was observed even at low levels,” the study states, directly challenging the notion that moderate drinking could be beneficial for heart health or other outcomes. The findings align with the World Health Organization’s 2023 determination that there is “no safe amount” of alcohol, which also highlighted that about half of alcohol-related deaths are linked to light or moderate consumption.
The study’s authors were informed last year by the Trump administration that the results would not be published, with some researchers pointing to influence from the alcohol industry. The suppression of the findings has drawn sharp criticism from public health advocates, who argue that the decision undermined evidence-based policymaking. The study was intended to inform the 2025-2030 DGA, which was released earlier this year.
However, the latest DGA took a notably softer stance on alcohol, offering no specific limits. It merely advises Americans to “consume less alcohol for better overall health” and lists groups that should avoid alcohol entirely, such as pregnant individuals and those on medications that interact with alcohol. This marks a significant shift from the previous DGA, which recommended that men limit themselves to two drinks per day and women to one drink per day.
The researchers’ statement accompanying the study explicitly calls for updating the U.S. dietary guidelines to recommend that current adult drinkers have one drink or less per day. “The results also support changing the U.S. Dietary Guidelines on alcohol to recommend that current adult drinkers consume 1 drink or less in a day,” they wrote.
The controversy comes amid broader debates over public health messaging and industry influence. For instance, a recent HHS study attributed rural hospital closures to failed policies rather than patient demand, highlighting how political decisions can shape health outcomes. Similarly, the suppression of the alcohol study raises questions about transparency and the role of special interests in shaping federal guidelines.
The study’s release has reignited calls for stricter alcohol regulations, echoing global trends. As the U.S. grapples with rising rates of alcohol-related harm, the findings underscore the urgent need for clear, evidence-based guidelines that prioritize public health over industry pressure.
