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A major US government study showing the deadly risks of alcohol, including its link to cancer, has been buried, according to an exclusive report by Vox.
The Alcohol Intake and Health Study, commissioned in early 2022 by the Department of Health and Human Services under President Biden, examined Americans’ drinking habits and their effects on health.
The study found that even low levels of alcohol carry measurable risks, including seven types of cancer, and shorten life expectancy by an average of 15 years. Yet, after the final report was submitted to the Trump administration in March, it was never published, leaving the public without access to its findings.
According to Vox, the report’s suppression was due to pressure from the alcohol industry and political actors, raising concerns about public health transparency.
Experts say that millions of Americans may make daily decisions about drinking without full knowledge of the risks, and the absence of this study could influence the upcoming 2025 federal dietary guidelines.
Industry fears knowledge more than taxes
Mike Marshall, CEO of the Alcohol Policy Alliance, said, “The thing that the alcohol industry fears more than increased taxes is increased knowledge about the risks associated with drinking alcohol, particularly around cancer. They are working hard to prevent Americans from gaining the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for themselves.”
Americans are drinking less than before; only 54%of adults consume alcohol, down from 67% in 2022.
Yet knowledge of alcohol’s health risks remains low, with fewer than half of Americans aware that alcohol can cause cancer. The study was intended to inform the 2025 federal dietary guidelines, which advise on safe alcohol consumption and are updated every five years.
Alarming findings left unpublished
The Trump administration, working closely with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., played a key role in keeping the Alcohol Intake and Health Study unpublished.
Kennedy, known for his Make America Healthy Again movement, has long criticized corporate influence on public health and focused on reducing exposure to harmful toxins.
Yet, the unpublished study suggests that alcohol, a legal and widely consumed substance, poses significant health risks, and Kennedy’s office has not prioritized sharing this information with the public.
Priscilla Martinez, deputy scientific director of the Alcohol Research Group at the Public Health Institute and a co-author, said, “I was hopeful. Look at all this evidence we have. This is the moment change could happen.”
But after submitting the final report, the authors heard nothing from the administration. Reuters reported in June that the new guidelines might eliminate specific alcohol limits entirely.
The study shows that even low levels of drinking carry risk. Men who drink one alcoholic beverage per day face a one in 1,000 chance of dying from an alcohol-related cause, rising to one in 25 for two drinks per day.
Alcohol links to seven types of cancer: colorectal, breast in women, liver, oral, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Women face higher risks per drink, and alcohol-related deaths shorten life expectancy by an average of 15 years.
Katherine Keyes, an epidemiologist at Columbia University and co-author of the suppressed study, said, “Anyone making decisions about public health deserves this information. It is a shame that it remains hidden.”
Political pressure and industry influence
Political and industry pressure complicated the study’s release. Congress required the National Academies of Sciences to produce its own report, which suggested moderate drinking could be beneficial.
Critics argued that the report excluded many studies showing harm and aligned more closely with industry interests.
Tim Naimi, co-author and alcohol researcher, said, “Our study reflects the real risks Americans face. The other report gives a misleading impression that low-level drinking is harmless.”
HHS told Vox, “This information has been provided to HHS and USDA for consideration during the development of the 2025-2030 Guidelines,” offering no explanation for the study’s suppression.
Martinez warned, “People are going to get sick who might have avoided getting sick, because they might have reduced their drinking.” For now, the most thorough analysis of alcohol-related harm remains hidden, leaving Americans in the dark.
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