The US government is expected to drop its recommendation that adults limit alcohol intake to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, Reuters has reported.
The revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, could be released as early as this month. The new advice is expected to include only a brief statement encouraging Americans to moderate or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said.
Two of those sources and a fourth individual familiar with the process emphasised that the guidelines are still under development and could change before publication.
Current guidance advises women to consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day and men no more than two – levels generally seen as moderate. Similar limits are advised in countries such as the UK, which recommends no more than 14 units per week.
In Canada, a 2023 government-backed report warned that health risks begin to rise after just two drinks per week. However, Canadian government websites still advise no more than two or three drinks per day depending on gender.
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Even moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to increased health risks, including a higher chance of breast cancer. Some studies have also associated moderate drinking with possible health benefits, such as reduced risk of stroke.
A fourth source told Reuters that scientific evidence to support precise daily limits is limited, and the aim of the update is to reflect only the most robust available science.
Major drinks companies had feared the updated guidance might lean towards stricter limits, especially as organisations such as the World Health Organization have intensified warnings about alcohol’s health effects.