When it comes to all future doctor visits, don’t be surprised by the addition of a new topic of discussion that will be checked by primary physicians. 

According to the United States Preventive Services Task Force, all adults, including pregnant women, should receive a “drinking checkup” to look for unhealthy alcohol use. 

Doctors have been asked to provide brief counseling for patients that are found to drink above the recommended limit in an effort to help reduce their drinking. The news comes from a statement posted in the JAMA medical journal on Tuesday by the new task force.

When it comes to teens, the task force didn’t find sufficient evidence to constitute an endorsement in the case of alcohol screening and counseling involving those 18 and under. The independent panel of medical experts is planning on doing additional research on the topic.

Unhealthy alcohol use is defined as drinking in excess of recommended limits. According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, recommended limits mean no more than four drinks in a single day or 14 drinks in a week for men ages of 21 and 64.

When it comes to women and older men, it is recommended that no more than three drinks should be consumed in a single day and no more than seven drinks in a week. According to the institute, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for pregnant women. Birth defects and child developmental issues are the most common results of pregnant women drinking. 

Drawbacks of excessive alcohol consumption include illness, injury, and death. The task force also claims that unhealthy alcohol use ranks as the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.