A perplexing query from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy—the son of Fox host Steve Doocy—at a recent White House press briefing left White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre taken aback.
The question about whether President Joe Biden supports limiting Americans to just two beers a week sparked a moment of surprise and befuddlement.
The origin of the question was linked to comments made by Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), who cited observations in Canada regarding a similar recommendation.
Jean-Pierre's reaction mirrored the incredulity many felt as she questioned the source of the query.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
Doocy asked:
"Does President Biden want to limit Americans to two beers a week?"
To which Jean-Pierre understandably responded:
“I — I — where is this coming from? Maybe I didn’t miss you so much.”
Doocy's question was rooted in comments attributed to Dr. Koob—whose remarks were reported by the British tabloid The Daily Mail—who mentioned that he's monitoring the health outcomes of Canada's 2 beer per week recommendation and speculated on its potential influence in the United States.
A completely serious Doocy, operating on the premise that the President would absolutely support the idea, asked:
"“How do you guys think that’s going to go over?”
Jean-Pierre gave the following response:
“Let me tell you what I’m not going to get involved in: In that question right there. I have no idea. I have not seen the data. I cannot speak to this. I will leave it to the experts and not weigh in.”
When Doocy pressed her by noting "experts say two beers a week"—ignoring that Dr. Koob had simply made a recommendation—but Jean-Pierre's answer was more firm:
“I will leave it to the experts. I’m just not going to comment on that.”
Many have criticized Doocy after a clip of the moment went viral.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is anticipated to revisit its alcohol consumption guidelines in 2025 when it releases revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Currently, the USDA advises women to limit alcohol intake to one bottle of beer, a small glass of wine, or a shot of liquor per day, while men are recommended to consume up to two drinks a day.
Despite claims about potential health benefits from alcohol, Dr. Koob clarified that such perceived advantages are often tied to overall diet rather than alcohol consumption itself.
He emphasized that the benefits are more likely linked to a Mediterranean diet and socio-economic factors that enable healthier eating habits that "make[s] you able to afford that kind of diet and make your own fresh food and so forth."
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