Alcohol is so deeply embedded in social life that its health effects can be difficult to see clearly. A new PBS NewsHour discussion examines why many people still underestimate the risks associated with their own alcohol consumption.

The programme brings together public-health experts and a journalist who has investigated alcohol-related harm in the United States. They discuss alcohol’s links with cancer, liver disease and cardiovascular problems, as well as the gap between scientific evidence and what the public believes about drinking.

This gap is not simply a failure of individual knowledge. Alcohol is promoted, sold and presented as an ordinary part of celebrations, relaxation and social connection, while information about its health consequences receives far less attention.

Improving alcohol awareness therefore requires more than advising individuals to make better choices. People need clear information, but governments also need policies that reduce alcohol’s affordability, availability and marketing.

Find more from PBS NewsHour (USA, July 2026)