What are the guidelines for alcohol intake for adults?

• A. Not drinking alcohol at all is required.
• B. Moderate drinking is up to two standard drinks per day for women and up to three for men.
• C. One standard drink is 28 g ethanol.
• D. Moderate drinking defined as up to one standard drink per day for women and up to two for men; 1 drink is about 14 g ethanol; not advised during pregnancy or with certain medications.

Answer: (D)

Understanding guidelines for alcohol intake hinges on how much ethanol is in a standard drink and the goal of reducing health risks. A standard drink contains about 14 grams of ethanol. For adults, moderate drinking is defined as up to one standard drink per day for women and up to two for men. Alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy and when certain medications may interact negatively with it. This framing captures the balance between allowing some drinking while prioritizing safety and risk reduction. The other statements don’t fit because abstinence isn’t universally required, the daily limits are not the standard for everyone, and the stated amount per drink (28 g) doesn’t align with common guidelines.