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The alcohol industry must be exceptionally powerful (that’s why it is regulated by the Treasury Department, which cares about revenues, rather than an agency of Health and Human Services. Its lobbying is highly effective, especially when it comes to Dietary Guidelines.
That is also most likely why the Senate Agriculture appropriations bill contains this clause [my emphasis]:
SEC . 759. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) were tasked with providing findings and recommendations on alcohol consumption for the purposes of inclusion in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as required by section 772 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328): Provided, That the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture shall only consider the findings and recommendations of the NASEM report in the development of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and further, both Secretaries shall ensure that the alcohol consumption recommendations in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans shall be based on the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge consistent with section 5341 of title 7 of United States Code.
To understand what this is about, consider the NASEM and two other reports on alcohol that came out recently.
As I discussed here previously,
I. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health says moderate drinking
My summary: OK, moderate drinking increases breast and colorectal cancer, but reduces risks for heart disease and overall mortality—a net benefit (unless you happen to get one of those cancers).
II. The Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, says in his Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk
My summary: Oops. Alcohol absolutely increases the risk of at least 7 cancer types.
My summary: Oops again. Everyone, especially women, who drink any alcohol at all is at higher risk of 7 cancer types.
As reported in Vox and Stat, HHS is withdrawing this report and sending it to report heaven, as if it never existed.
Reuters says the forthcoming Dietary Guidelines will not mention alcohol.
For the background on all of this, see my previous reports: