False claim Biden limiting Americans to 2 alcoholic drinks each week | Fact check
No, Biden doesn't want weekly 2-drink limit for Americans | Fact check USA TODAY
The claim: President Joe Biden said Americans can have only two beers a week
An Aug. 28 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows a TikTok video of a man speaking into the camera about a supposed new initiative from the White House.
“Joe Biden says Americans can have only 2 beers a week,” reads the text in the video.
It received more than 10,000 likes in seven days.
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Our rating: False
Biden has not said he wants to limit Americans to two drinks a week. The claim distorts statements made by a federal public health official about possible changes to alcohol consumption guidelines. Experts say they would not be mandates and there would be no way to prevent anyone from drinking more than the recommended amount.
Expert: ‘People still can and will drink what they want to’
Under current U.S. Department of Agriculture public health guidelines, women are advised not to drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day. For men, the suggested limit is two.
However, Dr. George Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, floated the possibility that the recommendation could shrink to two drinks per week in an interview with the Daily Mail published in late August.
But those guidelines are only recommendations, not laws or mandates, and experts say there is nothing to stop anyone from exceeding either of those suggested limits.
“People still can and will drink what they want to,” William Kerr, a senior scientist at the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group, said in an email to USA TODAY.
There are no credible news reports about Biden saying he wants to limit Americans to two drinks a week. There is no mention of such a goal on the White House’s website.
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Canadian officials recommended that adults limit themselves to two or fewer alcoholic beverages per week, the CBC reported. Koob raised the possibility that a similar change could be made in the U.S. in 2025, when its guidelines are up for review.
Updates to the guidelines are issued every five years by the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the National Institutes of Health, the parent agency of the NIAAA.
Kerr said there is no guarantee the two-drink guideline would be adopted in the U.S.
“One perspective on the guidelines is that the goal is to get people to drink less and reduce alcohol harms,” he said.
Alcohol consumption is associated with health problems that include high blood pressure and cancer, and those risks increase with the amount of alcohol consumed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
USA TODAY reached out to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism but did not immediately receive a response.
The social media user who made the post declined to provide evidence to support the claim.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
- SDG 12.8: Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 3.5: Number of deaths and injuries from substance abuse, including alcohol.
- Indicator for SDG 12.8: Public awareness of sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
The article discusses the potential changes to alcohol consumption guidelines and the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. These issues are directly related to SDG 3, which aims to promote good health and well-being. Specifically, SDG target 3.5 focuses on strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including harmful use of alcohol. The article mentions the possibility of reducing the recommended alcohol consumption limits to two drinks per week, which aligns with this target.
The article also touches on responsible consumption and production, which is addressed by SDG 12. The suggested limits on alcohol consumption and the potential changes to guidelines aim to promote responsible alcohol consumption. SDG target 12.8 emphasizes the importance of providing relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature. By informing the public about the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption, progress can be made towards this target.
Although the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, potential indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets could include the number of deaths and injuries resulting from substance abuse, including alcohol (indicator for SDG 3.5), and public awareness of sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature, specifically regarding alcohol consumption (indicator for SDG 12.8).
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs Targets Indicators SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. Indicator: Number of deaths and injuries from substance abuse, including alcohol. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Target 12.8: Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature. Indicator: Public awareness of sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature, specifically regarding alcohol consumption. Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: usatoday.com
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