New Dietary Guidelines on Alcohol: Submit Your Comments Now

New Dietary Guidelines on Alcohol: Submit Your Comments Now

Jul 09, 2010 10:37 AM CDT by Rachel Hassinger

The USDA has proposed new Dietary Guidelines for Americans that include significant changes on alcohol that concern many public health experts. The deadline for public comments on the proposal is Thursday, July 15.

Every five years, the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) revisit the dietary guidelines "to promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases." The dietary guidelines include a chapter on alcohol (PDF). (A summary is on page D7-15.)

The Advisory Committee is recommending an average (weekly) rather than daily consumption guideline. Tim Naimi's accompanying commentary and Marin Institute's talking points (PDF) outline the issues. "The proposed change amounts to an endorsement for most men to consume up to 4 drinks and for most women to consume up to 3 drinks on days they actually consume alcohol," said Dr. Tim Naimi.

The real-world effect of the proposed new alcohol guidelines would likely be to encourage greater daily consumption of alcohol, discourage appropriate caution about using alcohol for health benefits, and open the door for the alcohol industry to misrepresent federal alcohol consumption guidelines to consumers, according to the Marin Institute.

Submit written comments to the USDA online (up to 2000 characters, attachments allowed). The USDA does consider all comments seriously before releasing the final version later in the year. But time is very short: the deadline is Thursday, July 15 at 5 pm E.D.T.

TAKE ACTION
Should the draft dietary guidelines be revised? Write to the USDA to share your views on the report. After you do, return here to email us or post a comment below to let us know you took action.

See also:
Radical and Dangerous: Possible Changes to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol (Commentary by Dr. Tim Naimi)

New Guidelines on Alcohol Consumption Threaten Public Health & Safety (Talking points by Marin Institute, PDF)

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COMMENTS:

Posted by Tiffany M on 09 Jul 10 02:45 PM CDT

Please don't encourage drinking or an increase in drinking, alcoholism is already one of the biggest problems in many countries. I'm a young adult, college student; my fiance and I have had guardianship of his youngest sister since she was 11 (she's 15 now) and its partly because of alcoholism running through their family.

Posted by Ellen Wood on 09 Jul 10 02:55 PM CDT

I am alarmed to read that you may be changing the guidelines for alcohol consumption. I am a psychotherapist and at least 50% of my clientele are people with substance abuse issues. We continue to act as if alchol is different than all other mood altaring substances. It is just as deadly if not more and the alcohol industry has been ruling the order of the day for years. Here in Wisconsin we have a large number of people that binge drink on a regular basis. People use all sorts of excuses about why it's ok and changing the guidelines, when there is no proof that drinking is better for your health as opposed to the increased risks for health issues seems arbitray and capricious. This decision certainly wouldn't be based on hard science. This is a country that is always looking for the quick fix, instant gratification. Are legal system is already burdened with dealing with those who are charged with alcohol related crimes. Telling someone its ok to drink what you are suggesting, would put folks over the legal limit in some instances. And that's just what we need! Please use your intellect and reason in making this decision. These new guidelines have the alcohol industries fingerprints all over it.

Posted by Marianne Gilkey on 09 Jul 10 03:05 PM CDT

Please do not change your guidelines that would promote an increase in alcohol consumption. This will drastically have a negative effect on families and children.

Posted by Patrick on 09 Jul 10 03:48 PM CDT

These new quidelines will ensure an increase in people needing alcohol recovery services. This is good for private treatment facilities, but will put an added burden on low income, underinsured citizens, as well as public funded AOD services.

Posted by Tom H on 09 Jul 10 03:55 PM CDT

Whenever there is an opportunity for a sector like the alcohol industry to appear that it is in harmony with government directives,demonstating that it has society's best interests at heart in it's advertising ( I need only ask you to remember the current benevolence of RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris Ads for chewing tobacco safety, and you can imagine what will be coming from the alcohol industry), we will have the classic case of the scoundrel hiding in the folds of patriotism. It will no longer be a French idea to have a glass of red wine with dinner; it will become an American Invention, completely in line with our culture- bigger is better. If a glass of wine is good for you..imagine what a bottle can do... And you can see several of the posters here are so enraged it has caused them to mispell, split infinitives,dangle participles, and mix tenses. Surely you can imagine what will happen to our language if these guidelines go through and advertisers do the same. Oh, wait, that's already happened.

Posted by Patrick Mahoney on 09 Jul 10 03:59 PM CDT

I believe one of the most effective questions we can ask individuals during initial assessments prior to AOD treatment is "do you drink everyday?". Chemical Dependency develops over a period of time. Promoting the regular use of mood altering substances with well documented histories of dependency and abuse is unwise.

Posted by Joe Kilcullen, MLADC on 09 Jul 10 04:05 PM CDT

Please consider the 0,1,2,3 Guidelines advocated by the Prevention Research Institute, U of Kentucky. Daily drinking should never be more that 2 drinks (a drink is any amount of beverage containing 1/2 ounce of ethanol). Occasional drinking should never exceed more than 3 drinks over at least a 3 hour period (1 drink/hour) - Though some may drink several times per week the total for any 7 day period should never exceed (maximum 3 per occasion) 14 total drinks. If some one is consuming beverage alcohol at a rate that exceeds the 0,1,2,3 guidelines they will experience complications related to excessive drinking.

Posted by Lynne E on 09 Jul 10 04:08 PM CDT

I totally disagree that you would want to change the recommended daly consumption to 4 drinks for men and 3 for women. That is irresponsible and inappropriate in a society where we continue to pay huge amounts for alcohol treatment. Alcohol ruins families, kills and causes many health problems. Please do not encourage greater consumption of alcohol but rather encourage responsible drinking with strong limitations.

Posted by Diane Markel on 09 Jul 10 04:09 PM CDT

This quiet attempt to sell more alcohol is not getting passed some of us; we are lucky to be informed by J.T. You, who are public employees, need to listen to the public and not just big alcohol. This whole idea of saying 4 drinks for men and 3 for women per drinking episode is unbelievable. Esp. for women--do you not know that alcohol affects women differently? Please do not change the guidelines suggesting that drinking more at a setting is somehow OK. Severe alcoholism is a reality; please do not cause more of this devastating disease by making such an un-scientific, un-researched statement. Who are you to break the bodies and spirits of even more alcoholics and their families! You may contact me if you want to interview me. Thank you. I am from Minnesota.

Posted by Diane Kopperman on 09 Jul 10 05:00 PM CDT

It seems to me that the commenters above are attempting to address the FDA, as evidenced by the use of "you". It was my understanding that we needed to send our comments directly to the FDA in order for them to read them. Posting here is just a private conversation between the members of JT. Am I wrong?

Posted by PFormaz on 09 Jul 10 05:41 PM CDT

Our research in MT shows that 4 drinks (3 for women) will put an average person over the .08 BAC limit for DUI, and we have the highest per-capita DUI rate in the country. Are you advocating that this is 'normal drinking?' To make a blanket statement and recommendation like this is irresponsible and poorly thought out.

Posted by Teresa Hamill on 09 Jul 10 05:55 PM CDT

I think that most people who consume alcoholic beverages do not count the number of drinks they drink per sitting so that they can average them out over a longer period of time. The binge drinker may not drink for weeks, and then drink enough over a period of days to stay intoxicated the whole time, at which point they need medical intervention in order to survive. Family and friends are devestated emotionally, physically and financially, as they too carry the burden of the alcoholics actions as this disease process passes from one generation to the next. Please consider the above statement as reaching out to those who cannot help themselves. Thank You!

Posted by Rachel Hassinger, Join Together on 09 Jul 10 05:59 PM CDT

@Diane K., you are correct! Colleagues, if you posted a comment on JoinTogether.org, but not on the USDA website, please take a minute to submit your comments directly to the USDA. (Look for their bright blue "SUBMIT Written Comments" button.) If you have time, we'd love to hear your insights, too; but we are not able to submit comments posted here. - Rachel

Posted by Nicolas on 09 Jul 10 07:03 PM CDT

We still need to define hazardous drinking by what happens when one drinks. The proposed guidelines say nothing about 3 or 4 drinks in how much time; it makes a differenc if you're having a chugging contest or out for the evening. And really, to suggest that 4 or 5 drinks is definitive of something that 3 to 4 isn't? C'mon. It's one thing if we want to focus on preventing problem drinking, e.g. driving after drinking or alcoholism - compulsive drinking beyond one's control, but the USDA guidelines may not be the place. If we're talking generally about risk to physical health, fatty liver, triglycerides, and so on - who knows? It's complicated because it's apples and oranges with some considerable overlap.

Posted by Jacqueline M. Sitte, RN, CARN, LADC I on 09 Jul 10 08:33 PM CDT

Please do no change the current guidelines for alcohol comsumption. It is already abused on many levels, and people who read the new guidelines will see it as OK to increase their intake. It needs education & intervention.

Posted by Jerry B on 09 Jul 10 08:50 PM CDT

Please please do not change the guidelines. I am a recovering alcoholic and this will tend to increase the abuse/addiction to the drug. I would have used this to increase my intake during my drinking years (if I needed a justification)..Also, as a Physician the deleterious effects of alcohol are bound to be increased. I urge you to leave the guidelines the same..

Posted by Sean Rueter on 09 Jul 10 09:12 PM CDT

Submitted this to the USDA a moment ago...I'm writing to urge you to carefully consider any recommendation or indication of alcohol as being a beneficial component of a healthy diet. I have personally experienced the devastating negative and harmful effects that even so-called "moderate" consumption can have on the mental and physical health of an individuals, families and organizations. Please keep the known damaging impacts of alcohol paramount in your analysis and reporting - more so than disputable evidence of health benefits that disregard the potential for addiction and harm.

Posted by Colleen on 09 Jul 10 10:48 PM CDT

I forsee a lot of unintended consequences from this piece of legislation. First of all, from a medical standpoint, this is pushing some limits on health, especially for those looking for an excuse to drink more heavily. Second of all, this may unintentionally negate some of the progress made in lowering rates of binge drinking and drunk driving among both adults and adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable to alcohol's effects from a physiological standpoint. Third of all, as a society, this sends a message that heavy drinking is normal and might hurt treatment efforts. I hope that the USDA considers these issues and thoroughly investigates them before implementing such.

Posted by Kenneth Anderson on 09 Jul 10 11:45 PM CDT

I am very happy to hear that the USDA wants to adopt realistic alcohol guidelines. Prohibitionist attitudes always lead to increased alcohol abuse

Posted by brinda Narayan-Wold on 10 Jul 10 02:03 AM CDT

The USDA ought to be science and evidence based when making recommendations as to how much alcohol men and women can drink daily. Alcohol is a drug that causes amazing and lasting hurt and harm to millions of Americans. Please do not recommend that US men and women consume higher dosages of this drug. That would be highly irresponsible of the federal government.

Posted by Rev. W. J. (Bill) Amundsen, Retired on 10 Jul 10 06:11 AM CDT

Given the damage caused to our society in dollars ($285-450 Billion, annually), to say nothing of the personal pain and injury, I wonder who is on the committee. When in court, potential jurors are screened before becoming one of the peers to stand in judgment of the defendant. Persons biased against the defendant are not supposed to serve on the jury. Given the cost to our society, and the fact that alcohol is one of the prime killers in our society, one has to wonder about the number of drinkers on the committee who need justification to increase their drinking. That may not be as far-fetched as it seems. Rev. W. J. (Bill) Amundsen, President, Michigan Council on Alcohol Problems, a temperance organization.

Posted by Virginia Bryan, MAC, CCS on 10 Jul 10 08:18 AM CDT

As a Substance Abuse Professional, I strongly encourage you not to change the current USDA aguideliness. Thank you.

Posted by Diane Dovico on 10 Jul 10 12:53 PM CDT

The current US Dept of Agriculture��s 1 drink per day for women and 2 for men is unrealistic and therefore ignored by most. As a 20 year professional in the Substance Abuse Prevention field, it made us sound like teetotalers and we were not taken seriously. Several years ago there was an effort to promote a 0 - 1 -3 guideline which most people could agree with: 0 drinks if you are underage, have a chronic illness, taking medication or have a family history of alcoholism, driving or operating machinery. 1 drink per hour and No more than 3 per occasion. The guideline I just defined is reasonable, provides a cautionary message while acknowledging most people can drink reasonable amounts of alcohol and not cause any harmful consequences. The guidelines were researched based and disseminated by Prevention Research Institute

Posted by D. Sesock-Miller on 10 Jul 10 09:41 PM CDT

Cookie cutting recommendations are wrong because individuals are unique, and for any entity to make such recommendations on alcohol (a drug)use is basically unconsciencable. The science and methodology does not consider the social consequences. WHY do people drink alcohol is the question? The ANSWER~to feel less stressed and more socialable, people do not drink to feel more healthy.

Posted by jackie on 11 Jul 10 09:20 AM CDT

this so-called moderate drinker is not safe.coz with time ,frequency ammount and duration that one drinks he/she might acquire the disease alcoholism.people the world over still need to be educated and sensitised on the disease concept of alcoholism.leave those guidelines as they are please dont dare change it.

Posted by Richard Crandall MA, LADC, NCC on 11 Jul 10 02:44 PM CDT

Alcohol is consumed by 50% of the American public. Alcohol is one of the two drugs that can kill people when they stop using it. If you were on the front lines you would see that a great number of the incarcerated folks are jailed because they drink and or drug. In 1997 I interviewed for a position at a local county jail. I was asked the question how many inmates do you think have an alcohol problem? I said 93%. The captain of the guard said " your close its 94%". Today's youth are aggressively drinking. I have seen it at a local wedding I recently attended and have talked with young clients of my own. Is the alcohol industry attempting to take advantage of this current trend? Do you want your kids to be behind bars? Alcohol has an accumulative effect and slowly and gradually it affects the mind, emotions, and body. Don't do this!

Posted by rachelrachel on 11 Jul 10 04:05 PM CDT

Ethyl alcohol is a dangerous and addictive drug, at least as destructive as heroin or cocaine. Nowhere in the body of the section on alcohol do we see the words "drug," "addictive," "addiction," "substance abuse," or the like. Technically, alcohol is a food because it does have caloric content, but the drug effects are far more significant than whatever food value it might have. It shouldn't even be including as part of the dietary guidelines.

Posted by Carla Boysen on 12 Jul 10 10:57 AM CDT

The Alcohol Industry refers to young people as disposable income for advertising and long term profits, and then advertises health benefits to sell their product. We are being controlled by the Advertising Industry and they know they have this power. People are preyed on their vulnerability and once you are hooked on their product, they will say anything to keep you coming back for more......the truth is, it adds nothing to the quality of life but only sets families up for long term health risks, death, jail, family problems, and long term poverty. Once you are in their well, they want you to stay in the well! This is no different than the Tobacco Industry.

Posted by Shannon on 12 Jul 10 11:17 AM CDT

I cannot believe anoyone would even consider this! People need to wake up and realize what they are doing!! We need to start caring about one another. People have enough issues with alcohol. We don't need to to encourage any more. For what..a buck? Is that what its all about? How about we start caring about one another. Start focusing on the children of the future. Because of budget cuts we can barely deal with the issues we have now. Now people want to add to it. This is only going to encourage more problems, lives being destroyed, as well as families. Enough is enough!!

Posted by Barb on 12 Jul 10 11:36 AM CDT

Please do not change the present guidelines. What is proposed could negate all the work that has been occuring across the county to address binge drinking, DUIs, etc. Please support these efforts by not encouraging more drinking.

Posted by Michele Smith on 12 Jul 10 01:17 PM CDT

It is extremely important that the dietary guidelines for alcohol consumption accurately reflect the true dangers of alcohol. Alcohol in and of itself is a solvent which contributes to extreme damage of developing fetuses when the mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. A woman's body is not equipped with the chemical that helps to metabolize alcohol which poses a bigger threat to women's health than to men's health. This isn't to say that alcohol is a benign substance for men to consume either. Liver damage occurs, not to mention the behavioral consequences of alcohol consumption.

Posted by Craig MacInnes, BS, CADC on 12 Jul 10 01:54 PM CDT

I submitted the following comments to the USDA moments ago: It would appear that the proposed new alcohol consumption guidelines would amount to an endorsement for most men to consume up to 4 drinks and for most women to consume up to 3 drinks on days they actually consume alcohol. The real-world effect of the proposed new alcohol guidelines would likely be to encourage greater daily consumption of alcohol, discourage appropriate caution about using alcohol for health benefits, and open the door for the alcohol industry to misrepresent federal alcohol consumption guidelines to consumers I��d like to encourage the USDA to adopt a more cautious approach when the product under discussion is a deadly, caustic, toxic, poison that has great potential for abuse & dependence. Sure, many people can drink alcohol moderately & safely, but about ten percent of the alcohol drinking population becomes addicted to that drug. Surely even the non-addicted drinkers often experience abusive drinking episodes, and some of those have truly tragic consequences. Thanks for the consideration of my comments.

Posted by Roy on 12 Jul 10 01:59 PM CDT

They had a proxy server error preventing my posting. Typical government site.

Posted by Julie on 12 Jul 10 02:08 PM CDT

Alcohol consumption is not necessary for a healthy diet and currently, most Americans underestimate the amount of alcohol they consume. Over indulgence and binge drinking are already problems in the United States. We should not increase the guidelines. (I also posted this on the USDA site)

Posted by Noreen Rahman on 12 Jul 10 04:18 PM CDT

I wholeheartedly disagree with the changes.

Posted by Rick Miceli-Wink on 12 Jul 10 04:27 PM CDT

I work for a Human Services agency as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I have been employed in the counseling field for about 27 years. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are often connected to many of the problems individuals and families have. Children often experience abuse, neglect and abandonment by parents due to parental drinking. Teenagers continue to experience massive pressure to conform to societal norms of irresponsible use of alcohol. Drunken driving continues to be rampant and enormously destructive and devastating. It would be foolish to have a governmental body raise the levels of "acceptable" frequency or volume of alcohol consumption. I live and work in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area and our high schools, universities and adult social gatherings most often revolve around binge drinking. In our community, having only 4 or 5 drinks per episode is not viewed as binge drinking or pathological by most parties involved in that level of consumption. Rather, it is considered "just getting started". Don't make any changes to the 2005 guidelines. Those were appropriate and should be left as is.

Posted by Deborah D. Dupire-Nelson (JT Fellow) on 13 Jul 10 12:10 AM CDT

JUST SENT TO THE USDA, UNDER THE HEADING ��ALCOHOL.�� It has recently come to my attention that a USDA advisory committee has proposed new Dietary Guidelines for Americans including substantial changes about alcohol that concern many public health and addiction experts. I am one of those concerned public health and addiction practitioners. I urge you to seriously consider both intended and unintended potential consequences of this proposal, which I have studied at length. The real-world effect of these proposed new alcohol guidelines would likely be to encourage greater daily drinking, discourage appropriate caution about using alcohol for health benefits, and open the door for the alcohol industry to misrepresent federal alcohol consumption guidelines to consumers. I am sure that the USDA is populated by well-intentioned, public service personnel, interested in doing what is best for the general public. In the interest of serving the public good, it is imperative, in my opinion, that ANY set of Guidelines issued by a US government entity NOT suggest that alcohol consumption can be taken to be a good thing -- for the individual, or for society in general.

Posted by Dupire-Nelson (PART 2) on 13 Jul 10 12:11 AM CDT

The probability is very high that these Guidelines, which are incomplete and flawed on their face, will be used to twist national health mandates that caution against alcohol consumption. What you are contemplating will most likely result in very significant unintended consequences, which will do major damage to our national population, including children, pregnant, and lactating mothers. These are just a few of the possible classes of victims of this proposal. Further harm will likely be caused to the public good by the general increase in alcohol-related injuries and deaths, and their economic costs to the general public. What you propose, though likely well-intentioned, is just plain wrong, and a bad deal for America. DEBORAH D. DUPIRE-NELSON JOIN TOGETHER FELLOW SAN FRANCISCO CA http://usda-cnpp.entellitrak.com/etk-usda-cnpp-2.8.0-prod/tracking.base.create.request.do?dataObjectId=21

Posted by Virginia, LCSW,CASAC on 13 Jul 10 08:45 AM CDT

Silly me, here I am an addictions professional and not even knowing that alcohol is a food!! I thought it was a DRUG!!!! I cannot believe we are assigning dietary values to DRUGS!!!! Have they included marijuana eaten in brownies as a food as well?

Posted by Connie Owen on 13 Jul 10 09:11 AM CDT

I am concerned about significant increases in "dangerous" drinking if the new Dietary Guildelines re alcohol are adopted. Suggesting safety with 4/3 drinks per episode ignores the high BAC level and impairment which can result in injury. dangerous behaviors and increase addictive potential. And where is the reminder of the size of the drinks?

Posted by Caley on 13 Jul 10 02:56 PM CDT

Living in Wisconsin with the highest number of bars per person 357:1. I see it as a disservice to the people and our health care system to diminish the health risk of alcohol by the standards you are proposing to change. It is already an uphill battle to convince people in Wisconsin, at least, that 4 servings per day for a male age 21-65 is the recommnended daily allowance to give permission for 14 in a sitting is unconscionable.

Posted by DonnaB on 13 Jul 10 04:52 PM CDT

Are you kidding? Do we not know that alcohol kills more people than any other drugs. Who writes this garbage. I am a recovering alsoholic and I have to watch everything I consume because of the alcohol content in things over the counter much less them telling me it is ok to drink three drinks. Lord I wish I Knew how to just drink three. I have been rewarded the gift of 24 years sober and to work with adolescents in which I see first hand what alcohol does to our future so I pray and hope they will reconsider.

Posted by Roy DiVincenti, LAC, AADC on 13 Jul 10 05:03 PM CDT

I just sent this message to the USDA. I am alarmed to read that you may be changing the guidelines for alcohol consumption. I am an Addiction Counselor and all of my clientele are people with substance abuse issues. We continue to act as if alchol is different than all other mood altaring substances. It is just as deadly if not more and the alcohol industry has been running the show for years. Here in Louisiana as well as other states we have a very high DWI problem. People use all sorts of excuses about why it's ok and changing the guidelines will open the door to more problems with DWI and highway fatalities This decision certainly is not based on hard science. This is a country that is always looking for the quick fix, instant gratification. Our legal system is already burdened with dealing with those who are charged with alcohol related crimes. Telling someone its ok to drink what you are suggesting, would put folks over the legal limit in some instances. And that's just what we need! Please use your intellect and reason in making this decision. These new guidelines have the alcohol industries fingerprints all over it. I think it is irresponsible for the USDA to have even entertained this idea much less spend tax dollars to investigate and publish this report. You people need eduction!!

Posted by Frances Wood on 13 Jul 10 06:27 PM CDT

I have just sent the following to the USDA but I am not sure they are receiving the postings above as I did not see any of them when I reviewed the comments on the USDA site. My comment: It is my understanding that you are considering changing the guidelines for consumption of alcoholic drinks. The proposed changes would give the affect of approval for increased consumption. Health Day News reported Feb. 24, 2009 that even one alcoholic drink for middle aged women increases their risks for developing breast, liver and rectum cancer. . Those who promote wine for heart health need to realize that drinking red grape juice provides the same health benefit without the hazards of consuming alcohol. The amount of alcohol - 4 drinks for men and 3 for women would lead to serious impairment in driving. Alcohol is our most abused drug. No way should the USDA be encouraging greater consumption of this drug

Posted by Jessica Lordman on 14 Jul 10 12:54 PM CDT

The gudelines for alcohol should not change. I think the prices of beer and liquor should be raised just like the cigarettes.Alcohol kills people everyday, not just by people drinking but drinking and driving and killing innocent people. this had got to stop.

Posted by Charley Bill on 14 Jul 10 01:01 PM CDT

Some of the comments above should bew submitted to USDA, but none of them appear on that site. Are you posting to this blog or to the USDA? Please try posting to USDA if you have something important to tell us about this change to the alcohol consumption guidelines.

Posted by Charley Bill on 14 Jul 10 01:08 PM CDT

There are no comments on alcohol shown on the USDA site. I submitted one that is not whown. Couldthis be caused by the lack of a "SUBMIT" button? USDA has missed some great comment ththat should beconsidetedbefore this change is finalized.

Posted by Angria Bassett on 14 Jul 10 08:18 PM CDT

Thanks for the oppurtunity to share my comments. Based on my experience working in the field of Nursing, and substance abuse prevention and treatment, I am amazed that this committe would consider releasing this guideline for use of alcohol not only on the USA, but as leaders in nutritional research and resouce ;on the entire world. Is there not enough evidence of the dangers of alcohol? As it is still very much a legal drug which needs no prescription and is still pretty loosly controlled. So at this time, this committee seeks to make alcohol a dietary supplement? What is it replacing in the body? Alcohol defeciency? According to the report, alcohol related deaths tops 90,000 and alcohol related health benifits about 26,000. Why not then regulate alcohol for the health benifits? Let the physicians prescribe "brandy" or what ever to those who need "alcohol supplementation" Where is the Committee placing alcohol on the Food Pyramid? It seem to me that up to 4 drinks daily for women and up to seven drinks daily for men should be placed right along with Carbohydrates or fruits and veggies . Please understand that many people will think that it is okay to drink up to (21 / week) women and 28 drinks / week) men. Please consider that an increase in limit will send the wrong message to those millions of people who are not able to control their intake of alcohol. Thanks.

Posted by Linda Verst on 15 Jul 10 12:13 PM CDT

Where did the USDA come up with these guidelines? Were there those in the alcohol industry who helped? Alcohol's legality does not indicate its harmlessness. Particularly in the case of the unborn child. Alcohol should never be used by pregnant women. I find the proposed guidelines shocking and unacceptable.

Posted by Eugene Cypress on 15 Jul 10 12:26 PM CDT

As a student of substance abuse prevention, please reconsider this change.

Posted by Ray Daugherty on 15 Jul 10 12:56 PM CDT

Following is an abridged version of Prevention Research Institute comments submitted on the Dietary Guidelines website: 1. Lower the peak guidelines. The proposed peak guidance is based on the research standard of 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more for women being ��binge�� drinking. While these levels increase risk for a variety of problems, so would other numbers had they become the research standard. These cutoffs were arbitrary and do not represent the level at which risk emerges. Thus, data on ��binge drinking�� is a poor basis for guidelines. 2. Keep both daily and weekly guidelines. The report is correct that weekly guidelines are more consistent with the research in that daily guidelines are an extrapolation from weekly studies. However, most research on drinking risk ignores peak consumption; 2 drinks X 7 days and 7 drinks X 2 days both equal 14 drinks yet carry very different risk. Focusing only on weekly guidelines ��codifies�� this limitation. Weekly limits also ignore the reality that people count drinks in one day more easily than drinks in a week or drinking days in a week. They could easily lose track of how many days it takes to exceed the weekly limit. 3. Include pacing in the guidelines. Three drinks consumed in one hour is very different than three drinks consumed in three hours. 4. Develop guidelines based not just on research but on how people hear and apply the information.

Posted by Leisa Ensworth on 15 Jul 10 01:32 PM CDT

The responsible thing to do at a time when alcohol is the most widely abused substance for ages 12 to 20 years is to leave the standards as they stand or to decrease the amount of alcohol consumption per week. As a woman, I do not know any other woman who can safely consume 3 drinks in one day. We do not need to belittle the dangers of alcohol; we need to strengthen them!

Posted by KRISTAN HILCHEY on 15 Jul 10 02:02 PM CDT

Do any of us honestly believe that people who have a problem with alcohol actually look and use these guidelines? Or that any adult isn't capable of understanding that using three drinks all in one day is a whole lot different than using one drink a day, three times a week? The only people who look and even consider these guidelines are people who are dieting. I don't know a grown up alive that actually reads and adjusts their alcohol intake according to these things! The only way we are ever going to do any good making alcohol and drug use safer is if we finally decide to come at it from a realistic and honest manner that includes the concept that when people don't trust or look at information given to them as irrelevent, it does no good to offer it!