2LT International News

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government is preparing to revise its influential dietary advice, with a significant shift: dropping the long-standing recommendation that adults limit themselves to one or two alcoholic drinks per day, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans, expected as early as this month, are likely to offer instead a brief caution urging moderation due to health risks, without prescribing specific daily limits.

Currently, the guidelines advise no more than one drink per day for women and two for men—a standard in place since 1990. However, officials involved in the update say the scientific basis for fixed limits is weak, and the goal is to reflect only the most robust evidence.

Two of the sources said the new language is still under discussion and could change, and a fourth individual is familiar with the process.

The shift would be closely watched, as the guidelines—jointly developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture—guide policies ranging from school meals to clinical advice and carry international influence. Neither department responded to requests for comment.

Some countries have taken a more conservative approach: Canada recently warned that health risks rise after just two drinks per week. The UK recommends no more than 14 units per week.

Even moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to higher risks of conditions such as breast cancer. But some studies have pointed to potential cardiovascular benefits, including a reduced risk of stroke. Two scientific reports commissioned for the guidelines came to differing conclusions, underscoring the ongoing debate.

One source said the new recommendation may be as short as a sentence or two, while existing numeric guidelines may still be included in an appendix.

The alcohol industry, including giants like Diageo and Anheuser-Busch InBev, had feared tighter rules. Senate records show both firms lobbied lawmakers heavily in 2024 and 2025, though neither commented on the guidelines.

Some experts voiced concern that eliminating daily limits could weaken public awareness of alcohol’s risks.

“The more general language is so vague as to be unhelpful,” said Eva Greenthal, a senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The message that even moderate drinking can increase risks, especially for breast cancer, would get lost.”

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known teetotaler, has focused on promoting whole foods in his messaging. While he hasn’t spoken much about alcohol specifically, his department’s shift in tone could be seen as an unexpected reprieve for alcohol producers, at least for now.