United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has released a new advisory highlighting the direct relationship between alcohol consumption and increased risk of cancer and calling for alcoholic beverages to be labelled with cancer warnings.
According to the new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, alcohol consumption is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S. after tobacco and obesity. Murthy’s advisory also states that alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven different types of cancer.
In the last four decades, scientific and medical evidence has increasingly suggested that the link between alcohol and cancer is significant. However, a significant proportion of the American public fails to recognize alcohol as a risk factor for cancer.
Surgeon General’s advisories are public statements aimed at informing the public on critical national health issues.
US Surgeon General calls for cancer warning stickers on alcohol
In an increased effort to raise awareness of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, the Surgeon General’s advisory recommends placing health warning stickers on beverages that contain alcohol. These would be similar to the labels that already exist on cigarette packages.
In his advisory, Murthy said, “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk.”
He added, “this Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”
The advisory also highlighted the types of cancer that are linked to alcohol consumption. These include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, liver cancer, oral cavity cancer, throat cancer, and voice box cancer.
Breast cancer is the most closely linked to alcohol consumption. According to the advisory, 16.4 percent of breast cancer cases in the US are due to alcohol consumption.
The chances of getting cancer are heightened regardless of what type of alcohol is consumed. As such, the report does not differentiate between wine and whisky when it comes to increased cancer risk.
US sees 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths each year
Murthy’s advisory also reviewed the alcohol-related cancer cases and deaths recorded in the U.S. Almost 100,000 cases of alcohol-related cancer, and 20,000 deaths, occur each year. Evidence shows that for cancers of the breast, mouth, and throat, the risk of developing the disease starts increasing when an individual starts having one or fewer drinks per day.
Other recommendations made in the advisory include reassessing the guideline limits for alcohol consumption, and for individuals to be increasingly aware of the heightened cancer risk associated with increased alcohol consumption.