Cheers? U.S to scrap longstanding guidelines on daily alcohol limits, raising eyebrows and happy hours alike
The United States might be preparing to remove its long-standing recommendation that adults must limit their alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, reported Reuters. This expected change in the upcoming US Dietary Guidelines has sparked reactions from public health experts and even those who enjoy an occasional drink, as per the Reuters report.
US Could Drop the Daily Drink Limits in New Guidelines
As per Reuters' sources, the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, expected to be released by this month, might include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, according to the report.
However, the expected updated guidelines, developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture, are still under development and subject to change, according to Reuters. While an insider told Reuters that the scientific basis for recommending specific daily limits is limited, the goal is to ensure the guidelines reflect only the most robust evidence, as per the report.
According to Reuters's sources, the updated guidelines are expected not to suggest consumers limit alcohol consumption to a specific number of daily servings, but the new alcohol-related recommendation might be limited to a sentence or two, and the existing numbers tied to moderate drinking might still appear in a longer appendix, reported Reuters.
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Industry Leaders and Experts Weigh In on the Changes
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a known teetotaler, has not mentioned about alcohol but has emphasised a focus on whole foods in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, a few alcohol executives had feared that changes might be made to tighter recommendations on alcohol intake as authorities like the World Health Organisation have increased their warnings about alcohol's health risks, according to the report.
However, an ex-US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, highlighted that alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer and called for warning labels on alcoholic drinks, reported Reuters.
A senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Eva Greenthal said pointed out that the more general language expected in the guidelines was "so vague as to be unhelpful," and highlighted that if the change takes place, the message that even moderate drinking can increase risks, especially for breast cancer, would get lost, reported Reuters.
According to Reuters, at present, the Dietary Guidelines advise limiting drinking to one serving or less per day for women and two or less for men, which is widely considered a moderate level. Reuters wrote, "Even moderate drinking is linked to some health risks, such as higher risk of breast cancer, though some studies have also found an association with possible health benefits, such as a lower risk of stroke."
FAQs
What exactly is changing in the US alcohol guidelines?
The guidelines may remove specific daily limits on drinks and replace them with a general recommendation to drink in moderation, as per Reuters report.
Will people still be advised to drink less?
Yes, the guidelines will likely still advise moderation or limiting alcohol due to health risks, but without specific numbers.
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