US Dietary Guidelines Drop Decades-Long Advice on Alcohol Limits
Federal health officials have released new dietary guidelines that notably omit previous warnings about alcohol consumption, marking a significant departure from recommendations that have stood for decades. The 2025-2030 guidelines, issued by the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, no longer include specific limits on daily alcohol intake, a move that has surprised many nutrition and public health experts. For over 30 years, the guidelines have recommended that men limit alcohol to two drinks per day and women to one drink per day. The new version removes these quantitative limits entirely. Instead, it offers a more generalized statement about the risks of alcohol consumption, advising adults to be mindful of the risks and to consider reducing or avoiding alcohol altogether. This change reflects a shift in approach and is reportedly influenced by a recent review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. That review found evidence suggesting that moderate alcohol consumption might be linked to some health benefits, particularly for heart health, though it also noted risks. The review panel concluded that the evidence was not strong enough to support setting specific consumption limits. However, the decision has sparked intense debate. Major health organizations, including the American Heart Association and the American Institute for Cancer Research, had urged the guidelines committee to maintain the existing limits. They argue that alcohol is a known carcinogen and that even moderate consumption increases the risk of various cancers, including breast and esophageal cancer. Critics of the change worry that the new, vague language could be misinterpreted by the public as a green light to drink more. They point to a large body of research indicating that no amount of alcohol is truly beneficial for health and that the risks, particularly for cancer, rise with any level of consumption. Meanwhile, the guidelines still advise limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily calories and saturated fats to less than 10%. They also continue to recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. But the removal of the alcohol guidelines is the most conspicuous and contentious update, dominating the conversation around the new recommendations. The guidelines are influential, shaping federal nutrition programs, informing food labeling, and serving as the basis for advice from doctors and dietitians across the country. The change regarding alcohol is likely to have wide-ranging effects, from public health messaging to the beverage industry.
