HHS Drops Proposed Changes to Alcohol Consumption Guidelines

In January, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decided not to go forward with a proposed revision to US dietary guidelines that could potentially have resulted in heavier drinking and an increase in alcohol-related health problems.

The proposed change to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 based safe-consumption recommendations on weekly versus daily alcohol intake (no more than 14 drinks per week for men or 7 for women). Although people who consume small amounts daily would have stayed within the current recommended limit of 1–2 drinks per day, 75% of Americans drink only 2–3 days a week.

“The net effect of the proposed change amount[ed] to an endorsement for most men to consume up to 4 drinks and for most women to consume up to 3 drinks on days they actually consume alcohol,” said Timothy S. Naimi, MD, MPH, a clinician and researcher at Boston University School of Medicine’s Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) unit.

Consistent with current scientific evidence, the guidelines remain at up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. For the first time, the guidelines also specifically define heavy and “binge” drinking and discuss their long-term negative health impacts.

The new dietary guidelines are available for download from the US Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion website.