The US Government is reportedly planning to update the recommended daily alcohol consumption limits in its revised dietary guidelines.
An article published by Reuters this week has claimed that the change would see the longstanding advice – that adults limit their alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day – would be removed. Citing “sources familiar with the matter”, Reuters said the amended guidelines could be released as early as this month and are expected to feature a statement encouraging moderation or limiting alcohol intake due to associated health risks.
Current guidelines recommend that women limit themselves to no more than one alcoholic drink per day, and men to no more than two. A ‘drink’ is defined by set volumes for wine, beer and spirits.
When contacted by Global Drinks Intel, a spokesperson for trade association The Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) shared a statement from Science Over Bias – a group of US growers, producers, distributors and retailers of beer, wine and spirits – which flagged that the updated guidelines “have not been published”.
It added: “The hospitality industry has consistently maintained the view that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans should be determined based on a preponderance of sound scientific evidence, free from bias and 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.”
In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) added its voice to the rising demand for cancer-related warning labels to feature on alcoholic beverages, this time in Europe. The news followed pressure from the office of the US Surgeon General on the country’s lawmakers to update warning labels to emphasise the risk of developing cancer from consuming alcohol.
