New US dietary guidelines include changes to alcohol guidance

New federal dietary guidelines announced by the Trump administration on Wednesday include a dramatic change on alcohol consumption.

The new guidelines, which are updated every five years, provide language on alcohol moderation rather than specific drink limits, as have been included in the past.

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans instruct Americans to “limit alcoholic beverages,” a change from previous guidance that suggested U.S. adults ages 21 and over limit consumption to two drinks or fewer per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.

The new guidelines also do not make a distinction between alcohol guidance for men and women, though scientific research has shown the sexes metabolize alcohol differently.

The new guidelines — which also urge Americans to eat whole foods, incorporate healthy fats, prioritize protein-rich meals and consume full-fat dairy with no added sugars — were announced Wednesday by Trump administration officials including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins with support from Dr. Marty Makary, who runs the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Oz claimed that previous drink restrictions on alcohol were not based on any specific scientific evidence of the amount of alcoholic drinks per day to recommend — despite studies that show an increase in health risks from consumption of alcohol.

The World Health Organization says there is no amount of alcohol that is safe and the previous surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, called on alcohol manufacturers to update their labels to be clear about the cancer risks of alcohol consumption.

When asked at the White House press briefing to explain the science behind the new alcohol guidance, Oz said that alcohol was a “social lubricant” that helps bring people together.

“So alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together. In the best case scenario, I don’t think you should drink alcohol, but it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize,” Oz said.

“And there’s probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way. If you look at the blue zones, for example, around the world, where people live the longest, alcohol is sometimes part of their diet. Again, small amounts taken very judiciously and usually in a celebratory fashion. So there is alcohol on these dietary guidelines, but the implication is don’t have it for breakfast, right? This should be something done in a small amount, with hopefully some kind of an event that may have alcohol at it,” he added.

The new recommendations on alcohol have drawn criticism from groups including the U.S. Alcohol Policy Alliance, a nonprofit that works to reduce alcohol-related disease, death and injury, according to its website.

“Given how deeply alcohol is embedded in American life, the public deserves clear, honest information about the risks of drinking so they can make the best decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities,” Mike Marshall, the organization’s CEO, said in a statement.

Marshall said the updated guidelines do not address the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer risk or the connection between alcohol and violence and other long-term risks associated with underage consumption of alcohol.

Over time, drinking alcohol increases the risk of certain cancers such as stomach and pancreatic cancer, and excessive alcohol use can lead to heart disease, liver disease and alcohol use disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Excessive drinking is defined by the CDC as 15 or more drinks in a week for a man or 8 or more drinks in a week for women. A standard drink is 12 ounces of a regular beer, 8 ounces of a malt liquor, 5 ounces of a glass of wine, and 1.5 ounces of a spirit, according to the CDC.

A World Health Organization report in 2024, which looked broadly at global substance use for people 15 years and older, showed more than 3 million people died from substance use in 2019, and 400 million people lived with substance use disorders, which can have a number of negative health impacts.

The American Heart Association says alcohol does not protect heart health and that any possible benefit seen in older studies likely reflected lifestyle differences rather than alcohol itself. The AHA links alcohol use to higher blood pressure, higher triglycerides, irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation, and a greater risk of stroke and heart failure, especially as intake increases.

If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSA) confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). For information and resources about alcohol-related problems and health, visit the website of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) HERE.