A crucial report released this week highlighted that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of death from any cause and heart disease compared to abstaining, but it also increases the risk of breast cancer. Rather than resolving the debate on whether moderate drinking is beneficial or harmful, the report's findings have further complicated the issue. The report, unveiled on Tuesday, was commissioned by Congress and completed by a committee from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. An update to federal dietary guidelines next year may include new recommendations about alcohol consumption. Currently, guidelines suggest limiting alcoholic beverages and advise that if people choose to drink, they should do so moderately—defined as two drinks per day for men and one for women. However, recent evidence has questioned the health benefits of drinking. In 2022, the World Health Organization stated that no amount of alcohol is safe. A significant study this year linked heavy drinking to six types of cancer, including cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, liver, and stomach.

The committee reviewed research dating back to 2010 to examine the relationship between moderate drinking and various outcomes such as overall mortality, heart disease death, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, weight changes, and Alzheimer's disease. We examined that body of literature and were able to draw three conclusions with what we term 'moderate certainty,' meaning we feel confident making these conclusions based on available evidence, said Dr. Ned Calonge, chair of the NASEM committee. Calonge's team did not link moderate drinking to colorectal cancer due to insufficient evidence but noted future research could change this.

Dr. Michael Siegel from Tufts University emphasized that alcohol's link to cancer should be a key takeaway from the new report: Essentially what this indicates is that alcohol is indeed a carcinogen, Siegel said. He stressed there isn't a level of moderate consumption that's advisable because it raises cancer risk.

Dr. Michael Pignone at Duke University expressed skepticism about low levels of alcohol reducing mortality or cardiovascular mortality: I wouldn't recommend someone start drinking for health benefits.

An additional report by a Department of Health and Human Services group will be published in coming weeks to help shape 2025 guidelines.

This report underscores all we don't know, said Dr. Nicholas Lim at University of Minnesota Medical School; he hopes it prompts better research into understanding alcohol's impact on health.