HHS Hands a Win to Big Alcohol
HHS HANDS A WIN TO BIG ALCOHOL
New Dietary Guidelines Retreat From Science Amid Escalating Alcohol Harm
The U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance (USAPA) today sharply criticized the newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) for retreating from the best available science on alcohol’s contributing role in chronic disease and premature deaths. Despite decades of research — and the federal government’s own advisory showing that no amount of alcohol is safe for health — the final guidelines fail to clearly warn the public about alcohol’s proven cancer risks.
“The new federal guidelines are a big win for the alcohol industry and their advocates in Congress. The scientific evidence is clear: alcohol is a toxic, addictive carcinogen that kills about 178,000 Americans each year — a 30 percent increase in fatalities over the past decade,” said Mike Marshall, CEO of USAPA.
The new guidelines fail to address the following:
- The well-established link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.
- The dangers and long-term consequences of underage drinking.
- The strong association between alcohol use and violence.
“Given how deeply alcohol is embedded in American life, the public deserves clear, honest information about the risks of drinking so they can make the best decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities,” Marshall added. “Despite HHS’s claim that ‘providing the public with science-based dietary guidance is core to the Dietary Guidelines,’ the Department shirked its responsibility to do just that when it comes to alcohol.”
Industry-Friendly Language, Science Ignored
USAPA applauds the suggestion to “drink less,” but notes that it falls short of providing specific guidance to healthcare providers and policy makers working to prevent the harms caused by alcohol. While reducing consumption is beneficial, the science is clear: there is no healthy level of alcohol use.
The updated guidelines eliminate specific recommendations on daily intake, remove the definition of a “standard drink,” and omit guidance that people under age 21 should not consume alcohol at all. Also absent are the key findings of the federally funded Alcohol Intake and Health Study, a comprehensive report Congress directed HHS to ignore.
In addition to increasing the risk of seven specific types of cancer – breast, colon and rectum, liver, mouth, throat, esophagus, and voice box — excessive alcohol use can lead to numerous other serious health conditions, including:
- High blood pressure.
- Heart disease.
- Liver disease.
- Stroke.
- Alcohol use disorder—this affects both physical and mental health.
- Digestive problems.
- Weaker immune system—increasing your chances of getting sick.
“As a public health expert and as a parent, I’m deeply disappointed to see HHS step back from providing clear guidance for American families,” said Tiffany Hall, CEO of Recover Alaska and Chair of the USAPA Board. “They fail to include what people need — transparent information on how and when the risk of alcohol increases, specifically, drinking one alcoholic beverage a day gives Americans a 1 in 1000 chance of dying an alcohol-related death; drinking two per day increases that risk to 1 in 25. The public deserves to know that information. At a time when alcohol-related harm is rising, federal leadership should be focused on prevention — not protecting industry interests.”
A Contrast in Guidance
Last year, USAPA released its own independent alcohol consumption guidelines, grounded in peer-reviewed science and endorsed by public health leaders nationwide. Those guidelines make clear that any amount of alcohol increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, and early death — and that abstaining entirely offers the lowest risk.
“Public health should never be a negotiation,” said Marshall. “USAPA’s guidelines are aligned with global standards set by the World Health Organization and leading public health authorities worldwide–as well as multiple federal government reports–because Americans deserve guidance that reflects the best available science.”
USAPA Calls for Immediate Action
USAPA urges Congress and federal health agencies to:
- Release the full Alcohol Intake and Health Study to the public
- Reassess the DGA alcohol section through an independent, science-based review
- Establish safeguards against industry interference in future guideline processes
About the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance
Founded in 2014, the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance is the national voice on alcohol policy — working to change the narrative about alcohol, define an actionable agenda for policymaking at all levels, and build a movement driven by the truth that alcohol harms. Envisioning a nation free from alcohol-related disease, death and injury, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is leading the fight to change America’s relationship with alcohol by translating alcohol policy research into public health practice. Learn more, including ways to support the organization, at www.AlcoholPolicy.org and follow USAPA on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.
