New U. S. Dietary Guidelines: A Shift in Alcohol Advice

The U. S. recently updated its dietary guidelines, and one big change stands out: the advice on alcohol. Instead of giving specific drink limits, the new guidelines just say to "limit alcoholic beverages. " This is a shift from the old rules, which suggested different limits for men and women. The guidelines now don't distinguish between men and women, even though science shows they process alcohol differently. The new advice also encourages eating whole foods, healthy fats, protein-rich meals, and full-fat dairy without added sugars. During a press briefing, Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the old drink limits weren't based on solid science. He called alcohol a "social lubricant" that helps people bond. He mentioned that in places like the "blue zones, " where people live long lives, small amounts of alcohol are sometimes part of their diet.But not everyone agrees with the new guidelines. Groups like the U. S. Alcohol Policy Alliance criticize them for not clearly stating the risks of drinking, like cancer and violence. The CDC warns that too much alcohol can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, liver disease, and alcohol use disorder. The World Health Organization says there's no safe amount of alcohol. A 2024 WHO report showed that in 2019, over 3 million people died from substance use, and 400 million people lived with substance use disorders. The American Heart Association also says alcohol doesn't protect heart health and can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.