Statement re: Call by Senator Thurmond for Investigation of Federal Dietary Guidelines Regarding Alcohol

National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Monday, 1 March 1999

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) commends Senator Strom Thurmond's call for a long-overdue investigation into the development of federal dietary guidelines regarding the consumption of alcohol. Since these guidelines were revised in 1995, members of the wine industry have tried used them as a marketing tool to increase sales.

With alcohol consumption the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, Senator Thurmond's concern about the possible manipulation of federal health policy by the wine lobby is well placed. If the 1995 revisions were made as a result of political pressure rather than sound health policy considerations, the guidelines as a whole have been seriously compromised and therefore lose any value for the public.

NCADD is particularly concerned about the "ripple effect" of these guidelines which have served as the basis for other federal policy decisions, including recent approval for controversial new wine labels that urge consumers to find out more about the product's "health effects." Such language only can fuel the kind of denial that is symptomatic of alcoholism. According to a recent survey by the Department of Health and Human Services, "heavy drinkers tended to use their beliefs' about the health benefits of wine to justify heavy drinking behavior and resist arguments for diminished intake."

NCADD provides education, information, help and hope in the fight against the chronic, often fatal disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions. Founded in 1944, NCADD is a voluntary health organization with a nationwide network of Affiliates. NCADD advocates prevention, intervention, research and treatment and is dedicated to ridding the disease of its stigma and its sufferers from their denial and shame.

For more information, or to contact National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, see their website at: www.ncadd.org