A prominent Harvard University epidemiologist who touted the health benefits of beer to medical journalists at Anheuser-Busch sponsored events in New York and Chicago has decided not to do any further lectures.

The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 9 that Meir Stampfer, chairman of the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), delivered lectures on moderate drinking at events -- including one planned in Boston -- that featured beer tastings at fancy restaurants. The beer industry has been concerned that most studies and reporting on so-called "healthy drinking" has focused on red wine, while researchers like Stampfer contend that moderate consumption of any type of alcohol seems to be related to better health.

"The third lecture was canceled because after the Wall Street Journal article came out, it was clear that the focus at such a talk would be me rather than the scientific health data I planned to present," Stampfer told Join Together.

A broad range of studies by Stampfer and others have concluded that there is an association -- but no causal link -- between moderate alcohol use and coronary health. But other studies show that even moderate alcohol use may be related to higher risk of breast cancer and other diseases. In fact, Stampfer's group at HSPH published some of the first research linking moderate drinking to breast cancer, although the researcher said that consuming adequate amounts of folic acid appears to counteract the risk.

Stampfer has authored or co-authored more than 50 research papers on the health effects of moderate drinking. He was not paid by Anheuser-Busch for the lectures he delivered, but the brewer has donated $150,000 in scholarship money to the HSPH.

Lectures Prompt Outrage

News of Stampfer's industry-sponsored presentations outraged many addiction-prevention experts. "For those of us who have been in the alcohol-abuse prevention field for more than a few years, the behavior of Anheuser-Busch in this instance is no surprise whatsoever. Their skills in advertising and marketing, which include bullying, buyouts, and outright deception, are unmatched," said Steve Meisburg, a former city commissioner in Tallahassee, Fla., and a member of Join Together's National Policy Panel on Substance Abuse Prevention. "The general public, politicians at every level, university administrators and faculty are simply pawns in their white-gloved hands. What is stunning and appalling in this episode is the apparent abandonment of ethics and professional pride on the part of Dr. Stampfer and the Harvard School of Public Health."

Robin Herman, director of communications for HSPH, said there was "no connection or arrangement" between Anheuser-Busch's donations to the school and Stampfer's appearances, and said that Stampfer "did not violate any standing university policies in giving these talks."

"I was not compensated, and there was no company input to my talks," said Stampfer. "There was nothing unethical here."

Beer consumption in the U.S. has been on the decline in recent years, with the industry losing ground to distilled spirits and wine. Brewers like Anheuser-Busch believe that the increase in wine consumption is due at least in part to public perception of its health benefits.

Alcohol companies are prohibited from advertising health claims for their products without presenting the risks associated with consumption. Those rules don't apply to third parties, however, and the Wall Street Journal reported that materials handed out by Stampfer at the beer events included far more information on the health benefits of drinking than the risks involved. Stampfer insisted that the presentations were properly balanced.

An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that Stampfer's lectures were not marketing-oriented, and Stampfer told Join Together: "In a marketing campaign, the company pays for and controls the advertising, and the message is geared to sell more of their product. None of those features were part of my talks."

But Judy Battle, director of the national youth alcohol-prevention group FACE, said the lectures crossed the line between education and marketing. "I take issue with this because it ... goes along with the whole notion of drinking responsibly," she said. "Saying that drinking in moderation is OK and healthy sends out a dangerous and flawed message," added Battle, because, she said, too many people have their own faulty interpretations of moderation: "It gives permission to people who probably shouldn't have permission," Battle said.

Battle credited Stampfer for his decision to stop giving the lectures, however. "We all know the beverage industry is a powerful influence, but I'm glad to hear he has stepped back," she said.

Stampfer said that the "data supporting the overall benefits of moderate alcohol consumption are sufficiently strong that they cannot be ignored, and that many people would benefit from such consumption," while adding, "Of course, there are huge adverse consequences to excess consumption, and many people should not drink at all."

But he added that while the public should be made aware of the health risks and benefits of alcohol use, "typical marketing is not nuanced or detailed enough to convey this [message] adequately. This cannot be done in a sound bite, so I favor restrictions on how marketers can use this information on the benefits of moderate levels of consumption."