Alcohol Study Sparks Political Firestorm

The debate over the safety of alcohol consumption has sparked tensions surrounding the upcoming U.S. dietary guidelines, set for 2025. Lawmakers and industry stakeholders are urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to halt a controversial study on the relationship between alcohol and health, which could influence these guidelines.

The focus of the controversy is a committee within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that is preparing a report on alcohol's health effects. This study aims to provide key data for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are updated every five years. The current guidelines suggest that men limit their alcohol intake to two drinks per day and women to one, but new studies suggest that no amount of alcohol is entirely safe, potentially leading to even stricter recommendations.

Since early 2023, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) has been conducting a study on alcohol consumption and health, sparking outrage among some legislators. They argue that it is inappropriate for a committee focused on preventing underage drinking to research alcohol's impact on adult health. On October 7, a bipartisan group of 100 lawmakers, led by Representatives Mike Thompson and Dan Newhouse, sent a letter to HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling for the study to be suspended, citing a lack of transparency and concerns over diverting resources from ICCPUD's primary mission.

In addition, House Oversight Committee Chairman James R. Comer issued a subpoena to HHS and USDA in September, requesting documents related to the evaluation process. Comer expressed concerns about HHS overstepping its authority in this matter.

SAMHSA has defended the study, noting that it was proposed before funds were allocated to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which is also preparing a report on alcohol. ICCPUD's panel members were selected for their expertise, and the study aims to complement the work of the National Academies.

The alcohol industry is closely watching the process. Jessica Brown, legal representative for industry clients, has raised concerns about the transparency of ICCPUD's work but affirmed that the industry will respond responsibly. The industry is particularly worried that stricter recommendations could have significant regulatory and consumption impacts.

Meanwhile, recent studies have called into question the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. The World Health Organization has stated that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, and research published in 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that even small amounts of alcohol are linked to an increased risk of mortality.

As political pressure and research accumulate, there is no consensus yet on how these findings will affect the 2025 dietary guidelines. The potential changes could have a major impact on alcohol consumption patterns in the U.S. and how the industry is regulated.