Emeryville, CA –The recently released Alcohol Intake and Health Study finds that even low levels of drinking raise the risk of cancer and death. Conducted by a scientific review panel under the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), the study includes contributions from Priscilla Martinez, PhD, Deputy Scientific Director and Scientist at the Alcohol Research Group, a program of the Public Health Institute.
Key Findings
- Risks far outweigh the benefits: Risks for alcohol-related diseases, including liver cirrhosis, certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and injuries, begin to rise with even one drink per day (14g of pure alcohol).
- Equal mortality risks across sex: Men and women face similar increases in the risk of an alcohol-related death with each drink.
- Alcohol is not a preventative measure: There is no evidence that starting to drink alcohol for health reasons prevents mortality or morbidity, and the few health benefits of moderate alcohol use vanish when people binge drink.
Study Highlights
- Focus on alcohol-attributable mortality: The study examines deaths from diseases and injuries causally related to alcohol use, making the findings particularly actionable for public health initiatives.
- Rigorous data and expert consensus: Top experts in fields, such as alcohol and cardiovascular disease provided risk estimates for statistical models, ensuring that no single perspective dominated the analysis.
Evidence-Based and Actionable
Unlike previous reports, which included cohort studies from other countries, this study used only U.S. data, acknowledging that causes of death differ across populations. This focus enhances the applicability of the findings to U.S. public health efforts.
Priscilla Martinez, PhD
“Our goal was to provide the most accurate, actionable data to help inform public health decisions and individual choices. Individuals are best equipped to make decisions about whether and how much to drink, and the American public deserves to know the risks associated with this choice, especially when half the population doesn’t know alcohol causes cancer.” said Dr. Martinez. “By focusing on alcohol-attributable mortality and consulting top experts in each field, we aimed to produce findings that are both robust and relevant.”
The draft report is available for public review and public comments are accepted between January 15 through February 14, 2025. Stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback to enhance the study’s impact and applicability.
About the Study: The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) committee, with contributions from leading researchers across multiple disciplines and institutions, including the World Health Organization, the Mayo Clinic, University of Victoria, the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, and Columbia University.
To access the full report, visit https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/media/pdf/Report-on-Alcohol-Intake-and-Health.pdf.
To learn more about ICCPUD: https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/
For media inquiries, please contact Diane Schmidt, Senior Communications Specialist, ARG: dschmidt@arg.org.
About the Alcohol Research Group (ARG): Established in 1959, ARG conducts and disseminates research on the epidemiology of alcohol and other drug consumption and problems, alcohol health services research, and alcohol policies, while also training future generations of researchers. ARG is home to the National Alcohol Research Center.
About the Public Health Institute (PHI): The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation, and around the world. PHI is at the forefront of research and innovation in public health.
