Endorsing ‘no safe level of alcohol’ would be a drastic mistake

Headlines like this one may be coming to a newspaper near you: “Americans told that health risks increase from even a sip of alcohol.”

This is thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to place anti-alcohol activists in charge of new health guidance on alcohol consumption, in a report slated for later this year as part of the current U.S. dietary guidelines review.

The politicization and scaremongering around alcohol have gone mainstream in recent years, as with the World Health Organization’s recent declaration that “no amount of alcohol is safe.” In the U.S., a 2020 federal dietary guidelines subcommittee urged the government to lower the drinking recommendation for men to no more than one drink per day. Federal officials determined there wasn’t enough evidence to support the change. 

Yet now, rumors are circulating that the feds will take an even more extreme position with official guidance that “no amount of alcohol is acceptable for a healthy lifestyle.”

This finding would not be grounded in science and would be detrimental to millions of responsible consumers. To suggest adults can’t even enjoy a toast at a wedding without raising health risks stigmatizes our decisions, disregards our social wellbeing and tells us we can’t trust our own judgment around alcohol consumption.

The science around alcohol consumption and health is dynamic and a subject of hearty debate. To claim that it is “settled” would be far from accurate. There have been hundreds of thousands of studies on alcohol and health including a recent Lancet study, which concludes alcohol can in fact be safely consumed for most adults. There are also social benefits to consider.

As one professor of health sciences recently put it, “The research they’re using also ignores the enjoyment and pleasure and stress relief and collegiality associated with alcohol.” 

“We actually exist in a social space,” he added. “And that has a significant impact on our health.”

Yet multiple members appointed to a review panel by the Biden-Harris administration have published studies pushing the view that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Some of these same researchers were involved with a Canadian substance abuse organization’s recommendation of no more than two drinks per week for either sex, which the Canadian government has not adopted. 

If it went too far for Canada, it definitely should not fly in the U.S.

By stacking their review panel with these activists, the Biden-Harris administration made a clear choice to tilt the playing field. If these guidelines are not science-based, it could have major unintended consequences for consumers. 

Among those impacted will be the many women I have gotten to know as president of the D.C. Chapter of Women Who Whiskey. Our passion for whiskey is a source of community, learning and appreciation for American craftsmanship. We enjoy this unique social opportunity to learn about the different taste profiles and characteristics of spirits just as much as we do conversing about our careers, families and aspirations.

Women make up a growing and powerful segment of spirits consumers, distillers and hospitality industry workers. Telling them there is no safe level of alcohol pushes them to disregard the guidance entirely, degrades their work in these industries and jeopardizes the vibrant sense of community they have found through the art and science of spirits.

These women are wise enough to know that there are risks with all things, from riding a bike to getting out of bed in the morning, to drinking alcohol. They are also wise enough to know that they should talk with their doctor about their personal decisions when it comes to enjoying alcohol.

September was Bourbon Heritage Month, an ideal time to raise a glass to the history, tradition and artistry of “America’s native spirit.” 

Distilled spirits have been a part of the fabric of our history for centuries. Our first president, George Washington, was one of the most successful whiskey distillers of his time. President Washington appreciated the social benefits of camaraderie and connectedness that come from enjoying spirits, stating, “The benefits arising from moderate use of strong liquor have been experienced in all armies.”  

The spirits industry has done much for our country, particularly with the newfound proliferation of craft distillers in cities and towns nationwide. This rising tide has lifted all boats — local economies, entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers, hospitality and the social lives of millions of responsible consumers.

As the government prepares its guidance, it should keep in mind that women and all consumers deserve science-based information, not politicized data designed to push a false consensus. Believe it or not, women are smart. 

We can handle the truth. We don’t need scaremongering, and we certainly don’t need a shame-based prohibition on responsible drinking.

Erlinda A. Doherty, a public policy expert and wine & spirits educator, is the president of the Washington D.C. chapter of the Women Who Whiskey Club.