science
American Cancer Society Updated Alcohol Guidance in 2020 After Scheduled Review
Len Lichtenfeld, former deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, said an interview nearly a decade earlier left him conflicted over the group's prior stance that moderate drinking was safe. Stat reported the society received millions from the alcohol industry through a New York City gala during that period.
StatAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Len Lichtenfeld, who served as deputy chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society until his 2020 layoff, told Stat he regretted defending the group's earlier position that one or two drinks a day remained safe even for cancer prevention. The exchange occurred almost a decade before late 2024 during an interview with a New York Times reporter.
Stat reported that the American Cancer Society received millions of dollars from the alcohol industry through an annual New York City gala while maintaining that stance.
Lichtenfeld said he felt indirect pressure to keep those donors satisfied and described the situation as conflicted. The society altered its official advice in 2020 to state that abstaining from alcohol is best for cancer prevention. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, told Stat the change resulted from a regularly scheduled update of nutrition guidelines.
Dahut added that staff epidemiologists had pushed for a stronger alcohol statement since the late 2010s and that the full committee endorsed the revised position in 2020. Lichtenfeld said the earlier interview continued to weigh on him because it showed how special interests can shape public health messaging.
