On today’s episode of The View, the panel struck a more sober tone while discussing alcohol consumption. The co-hosts chatted about the Surgeon General’s announcement about the link between alcohol and cancer risk, which warned Americans that drinking can lead to higher risk for at least seven types of cancer. However, Joy Behar wondered if Americans will booze a bit more despite the warnings after Jan. 20, when Donald Trump takes office for a second time.
The discussion began when Whoopi Goldberg said the Surgeon General’s announcement “was a big surprise for a lot of folks.”
As she asked, “Will this have people rethinking their relationship to alcohol?” she laughed and clarified, “I’m not looking at anyone at this table.”
Behar immediately protested, “I’m not a big drinker!” and told her co-hosts, “I’ve been on this show for 28 years and I have never come on this show tipsy — and believe me, I could have.”
Sunny Hostin then recalled that Behar had once asked her how things were going, and she replied that she had to “drink a glass of wine every night” to manage a specific “period” in her life. She didn’t get more specific, so use your own imagination to guess what period that was.
Hostin did say she’s now “rethinking” her relationship to alcohol, sighing as she said, “We just can’t have nice things” and admitting she didn’t know alcohol could be a cancer risk. “Didn’t they tell us red wine was really good?! Good for your heart, good for your body, good for your soul!”
When Alyssa Farah Griffin praised younger Americans who are now experimenting with a “sober-curious” lifestyle, Behar jumped in to ask, “But do you think alcoholism will go up during the Trump administration?”
Before Griffin could offer her own reply, Hostin immediately exclaimed, “Yes, yes it will!” while Griffin noted that “it did during Covid” and Sara Haines echoed the same.
If only Ana Navarro were on today’s show. We just know she’d have something to say about her beloved margaritas and rosé!
The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.