Trump administration official says alcohol can sometimes be healthy

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, said alcohol can act as a social lubricant and may have healthy effects when used safely in social settings. The administration's new dietary guidance removes specific numeric drink limits and instead advises limiting alcohol intake.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, described alcohol as a social lubricant that can have healthy effects when consumed safely in social settings. The comment came as the Trump administration released new dietary recommendations under its "Make America Healthy Again" platform. Those recommendations emphasize whole, unprocessed foods and tailoring diets to individual characteristics. The guidance also changed how alcohol is addressed, moving away from fixed daily drink limits toward a more general instruction to limit intake. Key facts: - Dr. Mehmet Oz said alcohol can serve as a social lubricant and suggested it can have healthy impacts when used safely in social situations. - The administration's new dietary guidelines focus on "real food" and individualized dietary advice as part of the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. - Previous federal guidance cited numeric limits (commonly described as two drinks per day for men and one for women); the new guidance no longer specifies those daily numbers and instead advises limiting alcohol. - Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, criticized the change and said weakening limits undermines messages about alcohol harms and that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, in a post on X. - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said the guidelines return to basics and prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods. Summary: The administration's revised guidance alters how alcohol is described in federal dietary recommendations and has drawn public comment from both agency officials and outside health experts. The change has the potential to create friction with advocacy groups that pushed for stricter chemical and food standards; whether the guidance will be revised again is undetermined at this time.