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U.S. Dietary Guidelines Drop Numeric Alcohol Limits, Urge Americans to 'Consume Less'

Health experts warn the vaguer message could weaken counseling that depends on clear thresholds.

Overview

  • HHS and USDA’s 2025–2030 consumer guidance replaces sex-specific drink limits with a general call to consume less alcohol without stating a number.
  • The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases criticizes the removal of explicit limits and cancer warnings, citing extensive evidence of alcohol-related harms.
  • Lobbying disclosures show at least 15 alcohol industry companies and trade groups worked on the guidelines in Q3 2025, with higher spending reported by Anheuser-Busch InBev and the Beer Institute.
  • Industry representatives deny pushing to eliminate drink-limit definitions and say the definition of moderation persists in supplementary scientific materials.
  • Federal messaging is inconsistent, as the CDC still references prior sex-specific limits on its public alcohol-and-cancer page.