Storm brewing over safe drinking review

The Turnbull government has quietly begun a review of Australia’s safe-drinking guidelines after the “low risk” level of alcohol intake was halved overnight amid accusations of nanny statism. The five-yearly review of the guidelines, running behind schedule, was kicked off by the government this month with the selection of a 14-member panel to scrutinise the guidelines for the National Health and Medical Research Council. There are rumblings the process is captive to anti-alcohol public health advocates who will ensure the review maintains or even stiffens the current standards.