In a recent press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced questions about the possibility of the Biden administration supporting a recommendation that Americans limit their alcohol consumption to no more than two beers a week. The inquiry stemmed from a Daily Mail interview with National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Director George Koob, who suggested that the United States might consider adopting guidelines similar to Canada’s, which advocate for limiting alcohol intake to just two drinks per week.
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy pressed Jean-Pierre on whether President Biden would endorse such a recommendation, but the press secretary refrained from providing a direct response. Instead, she emphasized the importance of relying on expert advice in matters of public health.
“Doocy asked Jean-Pierre if Biden wants ‘to limit Americans to two beers a week,’ which the press secretary did not answer,” the press briefing revealed. “Where’s this coming from? Maybe I didn’t miss you so much,” Jean-Pierre said. “Where is this? Where is this coming from?”
Undeterred, Doocy rephrased his inquiry, questioning how the potential drop in alcohol consumption recommendations might be received by the American public. Jean-Pierre, however, opted not to comment on the matter directly.
“Let me tell you what I’m not gonna get involved in that question,” she stated. When pressed further on whether President Biden would be “okay” with recommending only two beers a week for Americans, Jean-Pierre simply deferred to the expertise of health professionals, saying, “I will leave it to the experts.”
This recent controversy surrounding alcohol consumption guidelines in the United States was sparked by Koob’s remarks in the Daily Mail interview. Koob, who personally enjoys a couple of glasses of wine a week, expressed interest in observing Canada’s approach to alcohol guidelines and suggested that if there were health benefits associated with lower alcohol intake, it might prompt a reevaluation of American recommendations.
Koob stressed that there were “no benefits” to physical health from consuming alcohol and indicated that it was unlikely that American alcohol consumption guidelines would be raised. “So, if [alcohol consumption guidelines] go in any direction, it would be toward Canada,” Koob remarked.
At present, American guidelines suggest that men limit themselves to two drinks per day, while women are advised to consume only one. However, these guidelines are set to undergo review in 2025, leaving room for potential adjustments.
