The Great American Alcohol Debate

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It is the writer. Chicago-based contributing columnist

“Happy Alco Holidays” neon sign flashes in one of the windows Many trendy pop-up bars Pack the streets around Wrigley Field Stadium in Chicago. As Chicagoans prepare to celebrate that alco-holiday in earnest on New Year’s Eve, pop-ups are doing brisk business.

In what could be a pivotal year in America’s great alcohol debate, they’re shouting: it does Booth, do more to kill us Or Keep us alive? The true believers from both sides fought in the planned way New instructions On Alcohol: Should Americans Cut Down on Their Drinking? Or is moderation healthier than never drinking?

More young Americans are voting with their sense of humor: The Pew Research Center found that the percentage of 18- to 34-year-olds who say they drink has dropped. 10 points In the last two decades, from 72 to 62 percent.

And those who say alcohol is bad are winning the public relations war. Gallup It was found that 45 percent of Americans thought about drinking one or two drinks a day – the Current US guidelinesFor women and men respectively – it was not healthy. 65 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds say alcohol is bad for their health, up 17 points from 2018.

Overall, U.S. per capita consumption of pure alcohol “has fallen to its lowest level since 2002, when the epidemic peaked,” according to the IWSR, an international beverage data provider. IWSR predicts that the US alcohol-free market will have annual consolidation growth rate In the year 18 percent of the vote between 2024 and 2028. “It’s become commonplace to have non-alcoholic drinks on the menu, and people who drink don’t stick out like a sore thumb,” said Carrie May, founder of the nonprofit. Chicago AF, which promotes socialization in moderation.

That may be less true during Alco’s holidays: when I tried to order a non-alcoholic drink at a pop-up, I was offered a tipple or hot chocolate named after a children’s character.

Researchers believe that more people decide how they drink than government guidelines, which have barely changed for decades. I’m teetotal now, but the guidelines are the same as when I went to Washington, DC 30 years ago – and I was forced to get a liquor license because I brought so much South African wine. I didn’t wait for new instructions to change my habits.

But recently, policy makers around the world have taken a hard line on alcohol. Two years ago, the World Health Organization he said. No alcohol was safe. Canada funds research that addresses “alcohol-related consequences” for the drinker or others Two drinks a week or less. Still, Ottawa did not endorse this policy, and it continued to publish. Excellent instructions For “low-risk drinking”: three drinks at day For men and two for women.

Before revising alcohol recommendations in the US, “no amount is safe” advocates countered that moderate drinking has health benefits. Two rival groups are recommending government departments choose the 2025-2030 guidelines.

One of those groups, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; found The evidence is “imperfect” but still concludes with “moderate certainty” that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease than never drinkers.

A separate panel is expected to issue its report soon — and lobbyists on both sides of the aisle think it could provide evidence in support of sharply reduced spending guidelines. The alcohol industry is already protesting this. Amanda Berger of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States told me: “If you throw out the science and tell consumers there is no safe alcohol level, it’s going to cause them to completely ignore the guidelines.”

Dramatically reduced consumption guidelines may also face political condemnation. Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, discussed rumors of new restrictions last year when he posted on X: “What do liberals want to control every aspect of your life? If you want us to drink two beers a week, you can honestly kiss my ass.

Back in Wrigleyville, the neighborhood cannabis dispensary now has a long line. Americans may be drinking less, but Gallup says more than twice as many American adults Smoking marijuana Instead of 2013. If this isn’t booze, it might as well be dope.

In any case, we should not worry because the government thinks it will be good for us on New Year’s Eve. There will be plenty of time for that in January.