Feds expected to eliminate guidance on daily alcohol consumption

The U.S. government is expected to eliminate from its dietary guidelines the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol's health effects (Source: “Exclusive: US to drop guidance to limit alcohol to one or two drinks per day, sources say,” Reuters, June 18).
 
The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said.
 
The guidelines are still under development and subject to change, two of the sources and a fourth individual familiar with the process said.
 
Currently, the recommendations advise limiting drinking to one serving or less per day for women and two or less for men, widely seen as a moderate level.
 
Similar guidelines exist in countries such as the United Kingdom, which advises limiting drinking to 14 units per week. In Canada, a government-backed report in 2023 warned that health risks begin to increase after just two drinks per week, though government guidance online still recommends no more than two or three drinks per day, depending on gender.