In this article, the U.S. surgeon general issued a new advisory warning about the connection between alcohol consumption and an elevated risk of cancer. Dr. Vivek Murthy highlighted the established link between alcohol intake and various types of cancer, such as breast, colorectal, esophagus, and liver cancers. The advisory emphasized that even one or fewer drinks per day could increase the risk of certain cancers like breast, mouth, and throat cancers.
The surgeon general recommended policy changes to address alcohol-related cancer risks. Suggestions included making alcohol labels more prominent with warnings about cancer risks, reevaluating recommended alcohol consumption limits based on current research, and enhancing education to raise awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer.
These proposed efforts are akin to measures already in place to reduce tobacco use, including mandated warnings on packaging and in stores. The advisory urged individuals to consider the cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption when making decisions about drinking.
Alcohol consumption ranks as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., following tobacco and obesity. Dr. Murthy highlighted that alcohol is a preventable cause of cancer, contributing to around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S. This surpasses the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the country.
Following the advisory, shares of alcohol manufacturers like Molson-Coors and Anheuser-Busch initially dropped by more than 1%. The advisory revealed that while 72% of U.S. adults reported consuming one or more drinks per week between 2019 and 2020, less than half of all adults were aware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
Globally, 741,300 cancer cases in 2020 were attributed to alcohol consumption, according to the surgeon general. On average, alcohol-related cancer deaths reduce the lifespan of affected individuals by 15 years. Younger Americans are increasingly moving away from alcohol, with many opting for nonalcoholic alternatives. A Gallup survey released in August showed that about two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 34 believe alcohol consumption negatively impacts health, compared to less than 40% of individuals aged 35 to 54 and 55 and older.
