The VinePair Podcast: The Dietary Guidelines Around Alcohol Have Changed. Does It Matter?
Join VinePair at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival March 4th – 8th, 2026. This five-day festival, which is now entering its 20th year, showcases the very best of Charleston—infused with the talent of world-renowned chefs, winemakers, authors, artisans, and culinary storytellers from around the globe. Joanna and I will each be hosting a Beverage Workshop and a special dinner featuring Theodora and Renzo, so be sure to get tickets at chswf.org for these and other exciting events before they sell out! See you in Charleston.
Last week, the USDA and HHS wiped any mention of a daily limit on alcohol consumption from the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which will remain in effect until 2030. Since the DGA’s first edition in 1980, Americans were warned against drinking more than two alcoholic beverages per day. In 1990, the DGA’s allotment for alcohol was amended to two drinks per day for men and one for women. Now, in the second-ever switch, the U.S. guideline for alcohol consumption is: “Consume less alcohol for better overall health.”
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the change and what it might mean for the drinks industry. Insiders are viewing this a big win — and perhaps it is compared to the anti-alcohol language the guidelines could have used. But will this actually halt the industry’s overall slump? Do these guidelines actually have an effect on Americans’ habits?
Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
Zach is drinking: 2008 Domaine André Brunel “Les Cailloux” Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Joanna is drinking: Malivoire Wine Company Gamay Noir
Adam is drinking: Château Peyrassol Rosé
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This episode of “The VinePair Podcast” is presented by Charleston Wine + Food.
The article The VinePair Podcast: The Dietary Guidelines Around Alcohol Have Changed. Does It Matter? appeared first on VinePair.