Reconsidering our low-risk alcohol advice: The dark influence of the alcohol industry

Growing expert consensus confirms there is no safe level of alcohol use for health. Largescale

studies now show that alcohol use increases the risk of many chronic diseases in a

clear dose–response pattern, even at low levels of consumption. Many countries have acted

on this evidence by lowering their national low-risk drinking advice (LRDA). Aotearoa New

Zealand is now reviewing its own guidelines - a positive and overdue step.

However, this process faces a key challenge: interference from the alcohol industry.

Research shows the industry routinely lobbies policymakers, funds or amplifies misleading

research, and frames alcohol harm as a matter of individual responsibility rather than an

outcome of commercial practice. These tactics closely mirror those used by the tobacco

industry.

To protect the public and ensure evidence-based public health policy (including the LRDA),

stronger safeguards are needed. These include: advocating for a Framework Convention on

Alcohol Control to limit industry interference; strengthening rules on political lobbying,

donations and movement between government and industry to ensure that alcohol policy

serves public interest; preventing the alcohol industry from providing misleading

information to children and the public; and, acknowledging and acting on the growing

evidence of harm from alcohol to both users and communities.