SAN RAFAEL, Calif.– Alcohol Justice, a national alcohol industry watchdog, is sounding the alarm over reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may eliminate its longstanding daily alcohol intake recommendations in the forthcoming update to federal dietary guidelines. The move, which would replace clear numerical limits with vague calls for “moderation,” has drawn sharp criticism from health experts and public advocacy groups.
“This change will absolutely tie into MAHA—it will make America have an alcohol use disorder,” said Terry Cunningham, Board President of Alcohol Justice. “It’s a dereliction of duty to public health and a win for the alcohol industry, not for the American people.”
Currently, the USDA advises men to consume no more than two alcoholic drinks per day and women no more than one. Insiders say the proposed revision would drop these figures entirely, leaving consumers with only the undefined suggestion to drink in moderation—a term Alcohol Justice says has been repeatedly co-opted by alcohol companies to obscure real health risks.
Alcohol-related deaths have surged in recent years. A 2024 CDC report documented a 29% increase in alcohol-related mortality between 2016 and 2021, with the majority of deaths tied to chronic conditions like liver disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Acute incidents such as car crashes and suicides also contribute significantly.
“This decision ignores the evidence, ignores the science, and abandons the USDA’s role in helping Americans make informed health decisions,” said Rob Lipton, Director of Research and Development at Alcohol Justice. “There is no safe threshold of alcohol consumption, and our public health policy must reflect that.”
Critics say the guidelines review process has been marred by conflicts of interest and industry influence. A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—described as flawed by advocacy groups—downplayed alcohol’s health impacts. This was followed by a U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory highlighting the cancer risks of even low-level alcohol use. A third federal report on alcohol-related harms from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has reportedly been delayed or suppressed.
Despite these inconsistencies, all three reports concur on one key point: the risk of serious health outcomes rises steeply beyond one drink per day for women and two for men.
“The idea that light drinking is harmless is a myth, and the science is unequivocal,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America. “Even one drink a day can elevate cancer risk, including for breast and esophageal cancers.”
Alcohol Justice and other health advocates argue that removing clear guidance in favor of “moderation” is a dangerous step backwards. They note that the alcohol industry has long promoted the term to shift responsibility to individuals, ignoring how alcohol harms accumulate across populations—fueling traffic fatalities, violence, chronic illness, and addiction.
Still, public health experts point to promising countermeasures, including a proposed revision of the alcohol health warning label by the Surgeon General’s office and a Tax and Trade Bureau initiative to add nutrition labeling on alcoholic beverages. Alcohol Justice supports these efforts and is urging the public to push back against the USDA’s proposed rollback.
“We don’t have to watch loved ones suffer from preventable harm due to a lack of guidance,” said Raul Verdugo, Director of Advocacy for Alcohol Justice. “The USDA’s decision isn’t final. There’s still time to stand up for science, health, and accountability.”
Alcohol Justice is a nonprofit advocacy group based in San Rafael, California, focused on reducing alcohol-related harm through policy reform and public awareness.
