The Biden Administration, seemingly not satisfied with regulating energy to death, has set its sights on alcohol consumption.

Dr. George Koob, the director for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), shared with the Daily Mail he is considering new measures that could drastically alter current recommendations.

Drawing inspiration from our northern neighbor, Dr. Koob suggested that the USDA might align its alcohol guidelines with Canada’s recommendation of a mere two drinks per week.

Koob, who himself relishes a few glasses of Californian Chardonnay each week, expressed his intrigue towards Canada’s ‘big experiment’.

“If there’s health benefits, I think people will start to re-evaluate where we’re at [in the US],” he said.

At present, US guidelines allow women a single daily beverage – be it a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, or a shot of spirit – with men permitted two. The definition of a ‘drink’ remains constant consisting of 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol which is equivalent to one beer, one glass of wine at 12 percent alcohol or one shot.

These guidelines, rooted in research from past decades that often touted the benefits of moderate drinking, are slated for a 2025 review. Koob believes that if any changes are to be seen in the guidelines, they would lean towards Canada’s direction, insinuating a significant reduction.

Over the years, the narrative surrounding alcohol has evolved. While early studies hinted at health advantages – like the anti-cancer properties of resveratrol in red wine – more recent research warns of the risks.

A notable study from June identified 60 diseases associated with alcohol consumption, with 33 conditions newly linked to drinking. This includes well-known health risks such as liver cirrhosis, strokes, and cancer, along with conditions like gout and cataracts.

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Addressing the benefits some attribute to alcohol consumption, Dr. Koob suggests that most are intertwined with dietary habits and socio-economic factors, and not necessarily the alcohol itself.

He said, “Most of the benefits people attribute to alcohol, we feel they really have more to do with what someone’s eating rather than what they’re drinking.”

“So it really has to do with the Mediterranean diet, socio-economic status, that makes you able to afford that kind of diet and make your own fresh food and so forth,” he continued.

“With this in mind, most of the benefits kind of disappear on the health side,” he said, noting its role as a ‘social lubricant’.

Indeed, the cultural and social aspects of drinking are undeniable. Dr. Dan Malleck, a health expert at Brock University in Canada, stated, “We celebrate accomplishments, mark occasions, bring wine to parties, meeting with friends, commiserate, relax, blow off steam… these are important activities, and part of the texture and tone of many lives.”

As the review process for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030 commences, it remains to be seen how the emerging health data will impact America’s longstanding recommendations which are slated to be released in 2025.

It is important to prioritize health. It is also important to be social and have the right to choose what we put in our bodies. The debate on how much, if any, is healthy alcohol consumption will continue. In the end, it is really up to the individual to decide what works for them as long as they drink responsibly.

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