STAT+: Even with MAHA, Trump administration has gone soft on alcohol

STAT PlusThe Deadliest Drug Even with MAHA, Trump administration has gone soft on alcohol ‘Don’t have it for breakfast’: Despite alcohol’s toll, MAHA and the Trump administration have taken a lax view toward drinking By Isabella Cueto and Lev FacherJune 30, 2026 Isabella Cueto[email protected]Isabella is a chronic disease reporter writing about how the Trump administration is tackling the nation’s health epidemic — or not. You can reach her on Signal at isabellacueto.03.Lev Facher[email protected]Lev’s reporting has explored Americans’ deadly hostility to addiction medications, subpar treatment offered in jails and prisons, shifts in the illicit drug supply and consumption behavior, controversies surrounding harm reduction, and recent innovations in addiction medicine. You can reach him on Signal at levfacher.51. Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article This article has been updated with comments from the White House. The Make America Healthy Again movement wants for no enemies.Advertisement For the past two years, seed oils, sugary drinks, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and childhood vaccines — and the industries behind them — have been subjected to unprecedented scrutiny. Yet MAHA’s quest to vanquish the root causes of chronic disease has omitted an obvious foe: alcohol. Though drinking causes more deaths in the U.S. each year than infectious diseases and opioids combined, the movement and its leader, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have largely sidestepped alcohol. STAT’s investigation finds that the Trump administration has downplayed alcohol’s risks and actively derailed efforts to understand and prevent drinking-related harms, all while doing favors for the expansive alcohol industry. Advertisement Even Kennedy, who has professed a deep interest in fixing the nation’s patchy addiction-treatment infrastructure, has offered no plan for dealing specifically with the country’s favorite drug. Most of his investments so far focus on opioids or specifically on homeless Americans, and pay little attention to excessive alcohol use in the broader population. To date, the administration’s most noteworthy actions on alcohol have consisted of burying a report that concluded light drinking poses risks; eliminating over half the staff at a federal agency focused on substance use; closing the alcohol program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and altering dietary guidelines to eliminate suggested drinking limits. That erasure is rippling through government: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism removed information about the health risks of moderate drinking from its website in January, according to archived versions of the page. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In addiction, chronic diseases, Donald Trump, HHS, public health, RFK Jr., STAT Submit a correction requestReprints Isabella Cueto Chronic Disease Reporter Isabella is a chronic disease reporter writing about how the Trump administration is tackling the nation’s health epidemic — or not. You can reach her on Signal at isabellacueto.03. Lev Facher Addiction Reporter Lev’s reporting has explored Americans’ deadly hostility to addiction medications, subpar treatment offered in jails and prisons, shifts in the illicit drug supply and consumption behavior, controversies surrounding harm reduction, and recent innovations in addiction medicine. You can reach him on Signal at levfacher.51. Recommended Politics June 30, 2026 Republican Tom Kean Jr. reveals depression diagnosis after his four-month absence from Congress Politics June 30, 2026 STAT Plus: The loophole in Trump’s obesity drug deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Advertisement First Opinion June 30, 2026 Short-sighted new student loan caps elevate chiropractic care over critical health care professions Exclusive June 29, 2026 STAT Plus: FDA’s top gene therapy regulator is leaving his role Insurance June 29, 2026 STAT Plus: 26 states sue to block Medicaid work requirements Subscriber Picks