U.S. Scraps Alcohol Limits for Drinks Like Whisky: 'There Was Never Really Good Data'

Saturday, 10 January 2026 at 08:03

Over the past year, alcohol consumption stirred quite a bit of debate. Guidelines were tightened, and multiple campaigns launched after statements from the U.S. Surgeon General. Now the tide has turned. The United States is scrapping alcohol limits entirely.

Alcohol, including whisky, was heavily criticized last year. For instance, there was a proposal from the Surgeon General to overhaul alcohol labels with sweeping warnings. On top of that, the guidelines suggested that even two drinks a day would be too much.

The United States is now changing course completely. In the new edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, the fixed daily alcohol limits have been removed altogether. Where the advice once capped intake at 2 drinks per day for men and 1 for women, the government now adopts a broader stance.

Whisky and other alcohol: your own responsibility

Led by U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the report contains only limited information about alcohol use. The core message is clear but broadly framed: Drink less alcohol for better overall health.

There are no specific numbers or daily maximums, but responsible use is emphasized. The report also stresses that certain groups should not drink alcohol at all.

This applies to pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol addiction, and those taking medications that can dangerously interact with alcohol. People with a family history of alcoholism are also urged to be extra cautious, given alcohol’s addictive potential.

Alcohol as a social lubricant

During a press conference, Mehmet Oz, an executive at the U.S. healthcare agency CMS, addressed the removal of the old guidelines. He pointed to the blue zones, where people live significantly longer on average than elsewhere in the world.

'If you look at the blue zones, for example, around the world where people live the longest, alcohol is sometimes part of their diet – again, small amounts, taken very judiciously and usually in a celebratory fashion. There is alcohol in these dietary guidelines, but the implication is don’t have it for breakfast. This should be something done a small amount, with hopefully some kind of an event that may have alcohol added.'

- Mehmet Oz

He also made a striking point about the old two-drink maximum.

But the general move away from two glasses for men, one glass for women – there was never really good data to support that quantity of alcohol consumption. That data was probably primarily confused with broader data about social connectedness.

- Mehmet Oz

Oz describes alcohol as a social lubricant that brings people together. If individuals take responsibility for their consumption and enjoy in moderation, alcohol use can be perfectly acceptable.

Enjoy in moderation

Following the report’s release, the Science Over Bias Coalition responded positively. The coalition—which includes the American Whiskey Association—emphasized that the scientific evidence still points to moderation as the key. Not prohibition, but mindful consumption remains the right path, they say.