The biggest news out of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released last week, was a drastic revamp of drinking guidance.
In the first change to these guidelines for more than 40 years, new advice states that Americans should ‘consume less alcohol for overall better health’, but removes set recommended limits.
That’s a change from the previous guidance that men should limit their consumption to two beverages a day for men; or one beverage a day for women.
Announcing the new guidance, Dr Mehmet Oz, head of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said that data for these set limits had always been lacking.
And the alcohol industry has welcomed this approach that favors moderation over set limits.
“The Dietary Guidelines’ longstanding, overarching advice is that if alcohol is consumed, it should be done in moderation,” notes a coalition of beverage, agriculture and hospitality organizations, representing a cross-section of the industries, as they responded to the new guidelines.
“These updated guidelines, underpinned by the preponderance of scientific evidence, reaffirm this important guidance.”
Increased choice of low and no-alcohol
The beer industry, in particular, highlights its place in moderation: with a fundamentally lower ABV product than spirits or wine (84% of beers come in at less than 5% ABV) and a huge choice of low and no alcohol products now on the market.
This week, it’s launched a new campaign to champion ‘beer as the beverage for moderation’. It also highlights the simple and natural ingredients beer is made with; as well as its role in bringing people together.
“The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, since 1980, have recommended that adults who choose to drink alcohol should do so in moderation,” said a spokesperson for The Beer Institute.
“The US beer industry has championed responsible consumption for decades. We encourage adults of legal drinking age to make choices that best fit their personal circumstances, and if they choose to drink, to consume beer in moderation.”
A representative from craft brewing organization, The Brewers Association, adds: “The Brewers Association supports moderation and responsible consumption, ideas that are reflected in the new dietary guidelines. Beer, when enjoyed responsibly, remains the beverage of moderation and a valued part of many people’s balanced lifestyle.”
What is moderate consumption?
Alcohol Justice, an organization tackling misuse of alcohol and drugs, say the stripped-down nature of the guidelines create a ‘mixed blessing’ for public health advocacy.
While the guidelines do promote moderation, they do not make any reference to alcohol drinking risks (such as cancer warning labels).
“As an element of health education, they fail to provide plain cues that would inspire someone to aggressively cut back on their drinking,” it says.
“At the same time, the prior DGA guidelines (one drink per day for women, two per day for men) were increasingly disconnected from the preponderance of evidence around alcohol harm, which show no safe level of consumption."
In any case, ‘the decisions at the USDA have cleared the ground for a major reconsideration of how we educate, prevent and protect our fellow US residents,’ it says.
