(NewsNation) — A federal review of alcohol consumption guidelines is drawing criticism from lawmakers and industry advocates who view it as government overreach.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has convened a six-member advisory board to reassess current drinking recommendations. Three researchers on the board have previously argued that any amount of alcohol is harmful.
Current guidelines suggest men limit themselves to two or fewer drinks per day, while women are advised to consume no more than one.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., co-chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, called the review an example of “unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats” interfering with Americans’ freedom.
“The American people don’t appreciate bureaucrats telling them how to live their lives, especially when it’s not rooted in real science,” Barr said Tuesday on NewsNation’s “On Balance.”
Critics, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have mocked the potential for stricter guidelines. However, supporters of the review point to alcohol’s role in various health and social problems.
Dr. Tim Naimi, a substance researcher at the University of Victoria who is part of the HHS panel, has stated, “Alcohol is one of the leading behavior-related causes of health problems and deaths.”
Barr argued that local organizations and the bourbon industry itself are better equipped to promote responsible consumption. He emphasized that the review could lead to “more draconian measures” in the future.
Alcohol companies have spent millions of dollars lobbying lawmakers, more than a dozen of whom wrote to HHS and USDA on May 30 demanding more information on the process, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Alcohol deaths increased steadily over the past decade, with sharp rises during the pandemic years, according to a report published in May 2024.
Overall, the national alcohol death rate has risen 70% in the past decade, accounting for 51,191 deaths in 2022, up from 27,762 deaths in 2012, the KFF analysis found.
Guidelines vary a lot from country to country, but the overall trend is toward drinking less.
The United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Holland and Australia recently reviewed new evidence and lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer-warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026.
NewsNation’s Taylor Delandro and The Associated Press contributed to this report.