Iowa Drinkers Take Note: U.S. May Remove Recommended Alcohol Limits

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Alcohol is an interesting, often difficult subject matter for Iowans. We've heard the studies about alcohol and cancer, and Iowa being high on the list of states with alcohol-related cancers.

But now, even with more and more studies urging Americans to drink less, the government may remove the long-standing recommendation of "one drink per day for women" and "two drinks per day for men."

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That doesn't mean they're encouraging Americans to drink more, however.

The Reason Behind the Possible Guideline Changes

The reason for a change is not because some wild new study has indicated alcohol is actually healthy, quite the opposite. Almost every study calls it harmful.

It's because evidence on safe daily alcohol thresholds is weak and conflicting. They may actually be more confusing, too.

Instead of trying to make a specific drink number guideline make sense, the U.S. government is poised to remove daily drink caps and replace them with a general admonition to "moderate" drinking.

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This reflects the growing uncertainty around safe consumption levels, strong lobbying pressure, and rising awareness of alcohol’s links to cancer and mortality.

Yes, Alcohol Lobbying Groups Have a Hand in This

Big players in alcohol like Diageo (Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Smirnoff, and many others) and AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch) spent millions lobbying around the guideline updates.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's known to avoid alcohol and drugs, has not publicly commented on the possible change.

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There are only a few studies that attempt to highlight any benefits that low to moderate alcohol consumption could bring. I have seen one that indicates a possible reduction in stroke risk, because it's clear alcohol is not healthy.

For more information on possible changes to the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans, check out the Reuters story here.