Maddie Kelly isn’t a doctor. She’s a distiller at Seattle’s 2BAR Spirits, and she doesn’t want anybody to make health decisions based on her opinions. She does, however, encourage a healthy dose of skepticism over the Surgeon General’s recent warning about the dangers of even moderate alcohol consumption.

“We’re a bourbon distillery, so naturally, we’re going to be critical of sensationalist headlines warning that any alcohol consumption will definitely negatively affect your health,” Kelly says. “In reality, the picture of how alcohol affects one’s health is far more complex.”

Kelly points to several studies to back up her claims, including from the National Library of Medicine and Harvard University.

Seattle magazine caught up with Kelly to discuss outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s report.

What was your initial reaction when the report came out?

My mom’s a general practitioner. She always said that diet is so hard to study. I think I’m primed to look at diet and health news skeptically anyway.

 

When the report was released, did you think this could have a negative effect on your business?

We’ve been seeing a decline over 2024. Every part of the alcohol industry has seen a decline. So, you’re starting to see these health headlines pop up, and you’re wondering what part does that play in the decline? 

 

What do you say when someone tells you alcohol is bad for your health?

To each their own, (but) I do question if being overly anxious about your health and trying to control every aspect of your diet might actually be more detrimental. I’ll just tell people to live a little, relax about it. Moderation is really not going to kill you. 

 

Do you think alcohol is more dangerous than other items we consume?

Where do you draw the line? The research on having one or two drinks once a week or so really isn’t super clear. Are we going to start putting cancer warnings on red meat or sticks of butter, or sugary candy? All these things in the extreme are not good for your health. And I’m certainly not arguing that an extreme amount of drinking is good for you.

 

Is there a playbook that could hurt the alcohol industry considering that the Surgeon General began issuing similar warnings about cigarettes starting in 1957?

I have thought about this exact question. I don’t think it’s the same because pretty much everyone who smokes is addicted to cigarettes. It’s just addictive for everyone. Alcohol is addictive for I think 10% of the population (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says 10.2% of Americans battle alcohol-use disorder).

 

Is there any real proof that having a couple of drinks a week is bad for you?

At least as of now, I don’t think the research holds up. 

 

Final thoughts?

If you want to be more thoughtful about what you’re drinking or when you’re drinking, I’m all for it. If you do drink, drink locally.