US surgeon general issues warning over alcohol's link to cancer

Listen to article

The US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued a new advisory warning Americans that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cancer. In the statement released on Friday, Dr. Murthy called for updated health warning labels on alcoholic beverages to reflect this risk.

“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer, responsible for around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – more than the 13,500 alcohol-related traffic fatalities each year,” Dr. Murthy said. He expressed concern that the majority of Americans are unaware of the link between alcohol and cancer.

The warning comes amid rising alcohol consumption rates during the Covid-19 pandemic, with more Americans reporting drinking alcohol.

Alcohol is now the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, following tobacco and obesity, according to the Surgeon General’s office. The advisory highlights the well-established connection between alcohol and an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box cancers. The risk persists regardless of the type of alcohol consumed and increases with higher consumption levels.

The Surgeon General’s office also noted that evidence against alcohol consumption is growing, with health risks becoming increasingly clear. This stands in contrast to long-held beliefs that certain types of alcohol, particularly red wine, could offer health benefits.

However, the advisory acknowledges some nuances. A report published in December by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that moderate drinking—defined as two drinks a day or fewer for men, and one for women—might lower the risk of cardiovascular disease but was also linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. For cancers such as breast, mouth, and throat, the risk may begin with as little as one drink per day.

Cancer risk is influenced by various factors, including an individual’s biology and environment, the Surgeon General’s office clarified.

Younger adults in the US are increasingly viewing alcohol consumption as detrimental to health. An August Gallup poll found that almost half of Americans now believe that having one or two drinks a day is harmful—a record high in the survey’s 23-year history. Younger adults were the most likely demographic to regard drinking as unhealthy.

In addition to the warning, the Surgeon General’s advisory calls for the assessment of new guidelines for alcohol consumption that take cancer risk into account. It also stresses the importance of raising awareness about the cancer risks associated with alcohol as individuals make decisions about their drinking habits.

To implement these changes, the Surgeon General’s office has recommended updating warning labels on alcoholic beverages, although such changes would require approval from Congress.

This is not the first advisory issued by Dr. Murthy on public health issues. He has previously addressed concerns such as firearm violence, loneliness, isolation, social media’s impact on youth mental health, and the mental health of parents.