US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a significant advisory on Friday highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, emphasizing it as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States.
“Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, increasing risk for at least seven types of cancer,” Murthy’s office said in a statement.
The advisory reveals that alcohol is responsible for around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually, more than the 13,500 annual alcohol-associated traffic crash deaths. The report also shows connections with various cancers such as breast, mouth, throat, and liver.
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“The direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is well-established for at least seven types of cancer including cancers of the breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx), regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits) that is consumed,” the report said. “For breast cancer specifically, 16.4% of total breast cancer cases are attributable to alcohol consumption.”
Murthy recommends updating the warning labels on alcoholic beverages to include cancer risks and reassessing consumption guidelines so consumers can make informed decisions.
This call to action comes as evidence suggests that even moderate drinking, like one drink per day, can increase cancer risk.
The advisory is a part of a series of public health warnings on important issues and aims to raise national awareness to mitigate alcohol-related cancer risks. Since taking office under the Biden administration in 2021, Murthy has issued public health warnings for loneliness, social media use, gun violence, and parental stress.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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