Marin Institute appreciates the opportunity to comment on the 2010 Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Founded in 1987, Marin Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the public from alcohol-related harm. We advance policies to reduce over-consumption and monitor alcohol industry practices that undermine public health and safety.
Given this background, Marin Institute is uniquely qualified to comment on the Committee’s recommendations for the 2010 Guidelines, and to help ensure that any changes made to the Guidelines are made in the interest of public health and safety.
We are extremely concerned about the alcohol recommendations contained in the Report. They suggest that increased daily consumption is safe; that the uncertain health benefits from alcohol consumption outweigh the known risks; and that public health messages should include alcohol consumption for both patients and the general public. All of these suggestions are not only questionable, but also potentially dangerous. Moreover, they represent a significant departure from previous recommendations but without nearly sufficient scientific basis to justify such a shift. > > > >
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