The draft of the report released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services states that "in the United States, males and females have a 1 in 1000 risk of dying from alcohol use if they consume more than 7 drinks per week. This risk increases to 1 in 100 if they consume more than 9 drinks per week."
The purpose of the report was to generate evidence on weekly alcohol consumption thresholds to minimize health risks. While the draft summarizes the findings of its research, the report does not include specific recommendations on alcohol consumption.
Current U.S. guidelines recommend no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women, yet this new report suggests even those levels could be risky.
The report is one of two complementary filings on the relationship between alcohol and health that will help to inform the HHS and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as they co-develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
The report examined how alcohol contributes to certain diseases and injuries. Some of the findings include:
- Cancer: The new report found that even at one drink per day, men face a 51% increased risk of esophageal cancer and women face a 37% increased risk of liver cirrhosis compared to non-drinkers.
- Injury: Drinking three drinks per day raises the risk of unintentional injuries for both men and women by up to 68%, compared to those who consume less.
- Liver disease: Regular alcohol use significantly increases the risk of liver disease, especially for people with preexisting conditions like hepatitis C.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-alcohol-linked-health.html
