Dutch Health Council: There is no safe level of alcohol use, even one drink a day carries risks
- AlcoholAndCancer
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
29.06.2026 - The Dutch Health Council has advised the government to denormalise and discourage alcohol use, concluding that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. According to the Council, even one glass of alcohol per day carries health risks, including an increased risk of cancer.
The advisory report, “Alcohol and health in the broad sense”, was presented on 25 June 2026 to Health Minister Sophie Hermans. The Health Council, an independent scientific advisory body to the Dutch government and parliament, was asked to review the health and social effects of alcohol use. Its conclusion is clear: alcohol use is harmful not only to public health, but also to public safety.
The Council states that there is strong scientific evidence that any amount of alcohol increases the risk of seven types of cancer. Alcohol use is also linked to organ damage, impaired brain function and addiction. The report rejects the idea that moderate alcohol use can be considered harmless, and says there is insufficient evidence to support claims that moderate drinking provides health benefits, such as protection against cardiovascular disease.
The advice also looks beyond disease and mortality. The Health Council stresses that alcohol increases the risk of road traffic crashes, aggression and violence. These harms affect not only the person who drinks, but also other people around them. For this reason, the Council frames alcohol as a wider public health and safety issue.
The Council recommends that Dutch alcohol policy should be adapted to reduce the social acceptability of drinking and discourage alcohol use across all age groups and population groups. It recognises that this will not be easy, because alcohol is still widely seen as a normal part of social life. At the same time, the report notes that more people are choosing not to drink, and that changing social norms could support this development.
The Council also found no scientific evidence for the often repeated argument that alcohol use promotes social cohesion in society.
Dutch cancer and health organisations welcomed the report and called for stronger government action. Speaking to NL Times, Dorine Manson, director of KWF Kankerbestrijding, said on behalf of De Gezonde Generatie that the advice makes it impossible to delay stronger alcohol policies. She particularly highlighted the need to protect young people from alcohol marketing, warning that advertising encourages young people to start drinking earlier and to drink more.
The Health Council’s message is highly relevant beyond the Netherlands. It adds to the growing international scientific consensus that alcohol should not be presented as an ordinary lifestyle product, especially when even low levels of consumption increase cancer risk.
Sources: Health Council of the Netherlands, “Alcohol and health in the broad sense”, advisory report, 25 June 2026 Health Council of the Netherlands, “Alcoholgebruik moet minder normaal worden, er is geen veilige ondergrens”, news release, 25 June 2026
NL Times / ANP, “Even one alcoholic beverage increases chance of cancer, addiction, brain damage: Study”, 25 June 2026