Wine Still Under Attack: New U.S. Food Guidelines
There's no peace for wine, attacks are now coming from all sides. The latest in chronological order comes from the US, where changes to dietary guidelines appear imminent.
Currently, U.S. guidelines allow men to consume up to two drinks a day and women one. However, a new proposal could drastically reduce these recommendations, potentially to two drinks a week, as suggested by Canadian guidelines.
A survey conducted by Wine Opinions—and detailed in a recent Wine Searcher article—revealed that 66% of Americans between the ages of 21 and 39 would reduce their alcohol consumption if these new guidelines were implemented. Michael Kaiser of Wine America and Tom Wark of the National Association of Wine Retailers express similar concerns, noting that such a drastic change could turn wine into a product reserved for special occasions only, negatively impacting everyday drinking, especially among younger people.
Furthermore, the article highlights how the dietary guidelines review is currently handled by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) and not the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), prompting criticism over transparency and adherence to science.
The article also recalls the historic collaboration between the WHO and Movendi, an international temperance group, which has influenced anti-alcohol communications. Finally, it cites the US political context, where both presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, are known for their abstinence from alcohol and may support stricter stances against alcohol consumption.
