A federally-commissioned research project examining alcohol’s impact on health has finally been released through an independent publication after the Trump Administration decided against using its conclusions to shape new U.S. drinking recommendations issued this year.
The research, now published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, reveals that minimal alcohol consumption can elevate health dangers. According to the findings, Americans who consume one alcoholic beverage daily face a lifetime death risk from alcohol-related incidents, including accidents and injuries, of at least 1 in 1,000. This risk jumps dramatically to 1 in 100 for individuals consuming two daily drinks.
For American men specifically, the study determined that consuming two drinks daily – commonly considered moderate consumption – creates a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of death from alcohol-related causes.
The research also linked single daily drinks to heightened risks of specific cancers and injuries.
Critics from the alcohol industry and certain U.S. lawmakers have challenged the study’s approach, claiming its methods were unclear and problematic. They argue the research process contained bias and conflicts of interest, led by scientists who oppose alcohol consumption.
Instead of using this study, the Trump Administration relied on separate research from the non-profit National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine for their alcohol guidance updates. That alternative study concluded that moderate drinking correlates with reduced risk of death from any cause.
Earlier in 2025, six U.S. health officials had been working on a proposal to restrict alcohol recommendations to one drink daily for all Americans, changing from the previous guidelines of two drinks for men and one for women in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. The Trump Administration ultimately issued new guidance encouraging Americans to reduce drinking for improved health, though without specific serving recommendations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had originally commissioned the Alcohol Intake and Health Study to inform alcohol recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were released in January.
While a preliminary version of the study appeared in January 2025, the Trump Administration excluded its conclusions from their updated alcohol guidance and declined to release the complete study version, which has now been published independently.
