U.S. Alcohol Guidelines Review Sparks Congressional Controversy

A controversy over alcohol consumption in the United States has reached Congress, led by a group of lawmakers headed by Representative Mike Thompson. This group has called for the suspension of a committee reviewing national dietary guidelines, citing concerns over potential bias in evaluating alcohol consumption. Thompson, whose district includes Napa Valley, one of the country's leading wine-producing regions, submitted a letter last week signed by 113 members of Congress. The letter, addressed to the leaders of two federal agencies, urges them to halt the work of this committee.

The conflict stems from the creation of an additional study on alcohol, commissioned by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. This new study is being conducted in addition to the usual review carried out by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. According to Thompson, this duplication of efforts and costs is unnecessary. Furthermore, the committee overseeing this second study lacks the same transparency and congressional oversight as the main review process, raising concerns about the neutrality of its findings.

The additional study is under the supervision of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD), which has been interpreted as a focus on alcohol abuse issues. Critics, including representatives from the wine industry, question the composition of the committee, as it consists of substance abuse experts but lacks cardiologists or other specialists who could provide a more balanced view of alcohol's impact on health. In addition, some committee members have received funding from anti-alcohol groups, fueling concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

This controversy arises amid shifting global perceptions of alcohol consumption. Last year, the World Health Organization declared that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, putting pressure on governments to review their own recommendations. In the United States, current guidelines allow up to two drinks per day for men and one for women. However, there is concern that the new committee might recommend lowering these limits, which would directly affect the wine industry.

Thompson, who witnessed a similar effort against alcohol consumption in the 1990s, recalls that scientific research at that time helped to curb attempts to restrict alcohol use. Now, however, the circumstances are different, as global support for warnings against alcohol has grown. Thompson warns that the lack of transparency in the ICCPUD committee is a cause for concern, as decisions made by this group could impact a wide range of industries and lifestyles.

In addition to concerns about duplicating studies and lack of transparency, lawmakers are also questioning the cost of this additional process. Thompson pointed out that Congress had already allocated $1.3 million for the review of the 2025 dietary guidelines, making a parallel study unnecessary. He also expressed concern that this second committee was created without congressional input, raising doubts about its legitimacy.

Federal agencies have yet to respond, but Thompson and his colleagues await a reaction from Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Meanwhile, the wine industry is closely monitoring the situation, as any changes to the guidelines could significantly impact alcohol consumption in the country.