More Than 1 Drink a Day Linked to Health Risks, Clashing With U.S. Guidelines

New research found that health risks accelerate after 1 drink per day. Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty Images New research suggests alcohol-related health risks may begin at lower levels of drinking than previously thought. Researchers found no clear health benefit from even moderate alcohol consumption and concluded that both men and women should limit intake to no more than 1 drink per day. The findings add to growing evidence that any amount of drinking may carry long-term health risks. A major new analysis suggests alcohol-related health risks may begin at lower levels of drinking. Researchers found no clear health benefit from low-level alcohol consumption and concluded that both men and women should limit intake to no more than 1 drink per day. The study concludes that the risk of alcohol-related death begins at lower levels of consumption than previously suggested by federal guidelines. The research, published on June 8 in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, estimated that the risk of death and other health risks begins with relatively small quantities. Researchers concluded that current U.S. alcohol guidance should recommend no more than 1 drink per day for both males and females. The findings add to growing evidence that even moderate or socially accepted levels of drinking may carry long-term health risks, making individualized conversations about alcohol use increasingly important. The new report was previously commissioned under the Biden administration to help inform the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Some of the findings were published in 2025, but they did not include specific recommendations about the number of drinks per day. According to an editorial published alongside the study, the findings were not incorporated into the final guidelines released under the Trump administration. “Alcohol’s harmful effects on the body are well established, so these findings are not surprising. They reinforce the many biological pathways through which