In Major Reversal, U.S. Shifts Guidance on Alcohol Use

Thousands of people pause their cocktail consumption and embrace Dry January every year. The percentage of Americans who say they drink alcohol has hit new lows. And more and more, researchers warn we should stay away from drinking altogether.

But the ongoing debate about the health harms of alcohol took a turn Wednesday after the United States dropped its long-standing guidance to consume no more than one or two drinks per day. It marks a pull back in messaging for the federal government — under President Joe Biden, the medically-trained U.S. Surgeon General recommended adding cancer warnings to alcohol products, and reassessing limits on alcohol consumption.

During a news conference rolling out new U.S. dietary guidelines on Wednesday, Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said people should drink judiciously. Then he added it is a "social lubricant that brings people together" and "there's probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.