Recommendations Summary

HTN: Alcohol Consumption 2008

Click here to see the explanation of recommendation ratings (Strong, Fair, Weak, Consensus, Insufficient Evidence) and labels (Imperative or Conditional). To see more detail on the evidence from which the following recommendations were drawn, use the hyperlinks in the Supporting Evidence Section below.

• Recommendation(s)

  Alcohol Consumption

  For individuals who can safely consume alcohol, consumption should be limited to no more than 2 drinks (24 oz beer, 10 oz wine, or 3 oz of 80-proof liquor) per day in most men and to no more than 1 drink per day in women.  A reduction in alcohol consumption may reduce systolic blood pressure by approximately 2 - 4 mmHg.

  Rating: Consensus
  Conditional

  • Risks/Harms of Implementing This Recommendation

    None.

  • Conditions of Application

    Current evidence does not justify encouraging those who do not drink alcohol to start doing so.

  • Potential Costs Associated with Application

    None.

  • Recommendation Narrative

    Based on the JNC 7 report, alcohol consumption should be limited to no more than 2 drinks (24 oz beer, 10 oz wine, or 3 oz of 80-proof liquor) per day in most men and no more than 1 drink per day in women and lighter weight people, resulting in an approximate systolic blood pressure reduction of 2 - 4 mmHg.

  • Recommendation Strength Rationale

    The ADA Hypertension Expert Work Group concurs with the recommendations from the JNC 7,  regarding alcohol.

    • Updated from The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.  Arch Intern Med 1997; 157:2413-46.
    • Published in The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.  JAMA 2003;289:2560-71.

  • Minority Opinions

    Consensus reached.

• Supporting Evidence

  The recommendations were created from the evidence analysis on the following questions. To see detail of the evidence analysis, click the blue hyperlinks below (recommendations rated consensus will not have supporting evidence linked).

  • References
  • References not graded in Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Process

    The Seventh Report of the Joint National Commitee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, NIH Publication No. 04-5230, August 2004, produced by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in cooperation with the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

    Available at:   

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/

    To access the pdf of the JNC 7, click here: 

    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/jnc7full.htm