A federal study likely to impact U.S. dietary guidelines found that drinking alcohol even at “low levels” drastically increases a person’s risk of premature death. The research comes from the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and it is one of two reports guiding the 2025 revision to dietary guidelines.

Researchers found people that drank more than seven alcoholic beverages per week had a 1-in-1,000 chance of premature death, while those who drank nine or more alcoholic beverages per week raised that risk even higher to a 1-in-100 chance of premature death.

The report also said one drink a day increases the risk of liver disease, as well as certain cancers and injuries, but reduces the risk of a stroke.

The report comes after a recent advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who called for a warning to be added to alcoholic beverages about increased cancer risk associated with consuming alcohol.

The ICCPUD’s study, however, is in conflict with a report in December by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which found that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of death than nondrinkers. U.S. lawmakers and the alcohol industry are criticizing the ICCPUD’s findings.

Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California voiced concerns on Wednesday, Jan. 15, on what he considers a lack of transparency in the agency’s review process.

While Science over Bias, a coalition of the nation’s agricultural, beverage and hospitality industries, argued the study is “rife with bias and conflicts of interest” while lacking “scientific evidence.”

The alcohol industry also questions the ICCPUD panel’s motivations and qualifications, noting all six of the panelists in charge of the study are experts in substance abuse disorders, but not experts on other health effects associated with alcohol.

Two of the panelists also reportedly said no level of alcohol is safe to consume, and another panelist received funds from a religious group whose mission is to promote alcohol abstinence.

However, the U.S. Alcohol Alliance applauded the findings. A spokesperson for the organization said, “The fact that any amount of alcohol is harmful to your health can no longer be ignored.”

How the study will impact U.S. dietary guidelines remains to be seen. There is reportedly speculation that the guidelines could be in concert with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2022 declaration, stating that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.