The great alcohol debate has been reignited

A barfight of sorts is brewing in Washington, DC. A new report intended to shape the next edition of the US government’s Dietary Guidelines has reignited a debate over the potential health benefits – or lack thereof – of low or moderate alcohol consumption.

The conclusion: The report was made up of several meta-analyses of alcohol-related studies published between 2019-2023. It concluded “with moderate certainty” that moderate alcohol consumption – defined as two drinks/day for men and one drink/day for women – is associated with fewer heart attack deaths, stroke deaths, and overall deaths compared with never drinking.

• The report also found a small but significantly heightened risk of breast cancer associated with moderate drinking, but said there wasn’t enough evidence to link moderate consumption to any other cancers.

On the flip side: The report contrasts sharply with a growing consensus among scientists and policymakers around the world that alcohol has zero health benefits – and that consumption could actually pose a health hazard, regardless of the amount.

Many experts who are almost certainly partaking in Dry January have pushed back against the new report, noting the research it examined was observational, not controlled, making it difficult to know for certain that moderate drinking causes fewer heart attacks and strokes (as opposed to other characteristics like education or socioeconomic status).

Critics’ views were recently echoed by the "Nation's Doctor." Last week, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy published an advisory acknowledging a direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk, calling for an update to existing warning labels on alcoholic beverages to include the mention of cancer risk.

Looking ahead…The updated US Dietary Guidelines for 2025-2030 are expected to be published later this year.

📊 Flash poll: Do the US government’s Dietary Guidelines affect your personal decision making when it comes to health?

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