According to sources familiar with the matter, the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a collaborative effort by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, could be unveiled as early as this month. The new advice is expected to feature only a brief statement encouraging Americans to moderate or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks. It’s important to note, however, that these guidelines are still under development and could see further changes before publication.
Currently, US guidance advises women to consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day and men no more than two – levels generally considered moderate. Similar limits are advised in various countries, including the UK, which recommends no more than 14 units per week. This contrasts sharply with a 2023 Canadian government-backed report that controversially warned health risks begin to rise after just two drinks per week, though Canadian government websites still suggest no more than two or three drinks per day depending on gender.
Industry Influence and Scientific Nuance
This prospective change in US guidelines is being seen by some as a significant win for the drinks industry, following extensive lobbying efforts. Major alcohol producers had reportedly feared the updated guidance might lean towards stricter limits, especially as global organisations like the World Health Organization have intensified warnings about alcohol’s health effects. Both Diageo and AB InBev were among the prominent players lobbying lawmakers throughout the review process, with Senate records indicating millions spent on lobbying in 2024 and 2025, covering these guidelines alongside tax and trade issues. Neither company commented on the reports, though shares in both saw rises following the news.
While industry voices have been active behind the scenes, some public health officials and researchers have concurrently pushed for tighter restrictions. It’s understood that two key studies helped inform the update. One indicated that moderate drinking was linked to a higher risk of some cancers, yet a lower overall risk of death and cardiovascular issues like stroke. The other concluded that alcohol-related mortality risk, including an increased risk of seven cancers, begins at low levels of consumption and grows with increased intake.
A source familiar with the process stated that scientific evidence supporting precise daily limits is limited, and the aim of this update is to reflect only the most robust available science. It’s anticipated that the new alcohol-related recommendation may be confined to a sentence or two, though the current numeric guidelines could potentially still appear in a longer appendix.
Science Over Bias, a US group representing alcohol producers, has publicly affirmed the industry’s support for the use of sound science, free from bias or conflicts of interest. “Information on responsible alcohol consumption has been part of the Dietary Guidelines for decades and has provided useful guidance for consumers who choose to consume alcohol and their health care providers,” the group commented.
However, Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the non-profit Centre for Science in the Public Interest, has criticised the potential move away from specific limits, labelling the expected wording as “so vague as to be unhelpful.” She warned that such a shift could obscure the crucial message that even moderate drinking carries risks, particularly regarding breast cancer.
The US Dietary Guidelines, updated every five years, have consistently advised moderation and defined it as no more than one drink per day for women and two for men since 1990. This impending alteration marks a notable moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding alcohol and public health.
Stay tuned for more insights on the topic, only from Bar and Club Magazine.
