New US dietary guidelines are vague on alcohol. What do they mean?

"New U.S. Dietary Guidelines released today by the Trump administration urge Americans to favor "real food" over products that are highly processed and laden with sugar, salt and artificial additives. The update follows a yearlong push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to advance his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, an effort aimed at reshaping the nation's food system."

"The long-overdue 2025-2030 guidelines set clear limits on saturated fat - less than 10% of total daily calories - and added sugars, which are capped at 10 grams per meal. Recommendations regarding alcohol consumption, however, are notably less specific. While previous editions recommended no more than two drinks per day for men and one for women, the updated guidelines advise Americans to "consume less alcohol for better overall health," without defining a limit."

"Those who are pregnant, recovering from alcohol-use disorder or taking medications affected by alcohol should abstain from drinking altogether, the guidelines recommend. They also advise people with a family history of alcoholism to be mindful of their alcohol consumption and associated addictive behaviors. Whether the latest update provides sufficient guidance for Americans deciding how much alcohol to drink remains an unanswered question."

The 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines emphasize preferring real, minimally processed foods over highly processed products high in sugar, salt, and artificial additives. The guidelines limit saturated fat to less than 10% of total daily calories and cap added sugars at 10 grams per meal. Alcohol guidance is nonspecific, advising Americans to "consume less alcohol for better overall health" without a numerical limit. The guidelines recommend abstinence for people who are pregnant, recovering from alcohol-use disorder, or taking medications affected by alcohol, and advise caution for those with a family history of alcoholism. Recent years have produced conflicting findings and guidance about alcohol's health effects, complicating public understanding.

Read at The Mercury News