The great alcohol debate: how much can you drink and still be healthy?

For nearly three decades, America’s federal dietary guidelines have said it’s safe for men to have up to two drinks/day (14/week), and for women to have one (7/week). But recent research suggests the guidelines should be far more conservative than that.

Let’s break it down: Last year, an influential group of Canadian researchers assessed a wide range of studies that examined how different drinking frequencies affect people’s health.

• Their analysis concluded that “no amount or kind of alcohol is good for your health,” and recommended limiting consumption to two drinks or less per week. The researchers said consuming any more alcohol than that leads to moderate or higher risks of developing heart disease, liver disease, and/or a half-dozen different cancers.
• Based on this research, a half-dozen countries have published new guidelines recommending lower levels of alcohol consumption. This includes Canada, which cut its guidelines from 15 drinks/week for men and 10 for women to two drinks/week, regardless of gender.

Yes, but: Some lawmakers, government officials, and alcohol-industry lobbyists have questioned the research methods of scientists asking for lower alcohol consumption recommendations. A previous attempt to lower drinking limits by a federal advisory panel was struck down in 2020, with US health officials determining there wasn’t enough evidence to support the change.

👀 Looking ahead… Next year, the US government will update its recommendations on alcohol for the first time since 2020 – and a fight is brewing in DC, as government agencies and the alcohol industry clash over whether, or how much, to change existing guidelines.