The U.S. Surgeon General issued a new advisory on Friday highlighting the connection between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer, urging policy changes to reduce the number of alcohol-related cancer cases.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that the link between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including those of the breast, colorectum, esophagus, and liver, is “well-established.”
He explained that for certain cancers, such as breast, mouth, and throat, the increased risk could begin with as little as one or fewer drinks per day.
As part of the advisory, the surgeon general advocated for policy adjustments aimed at reducing alcohol-related cancer.
He suggested that alcohol labels should be made more visible and include a warning about the increased risk of cancer.
He also recommended reassessing the current guidelines on alcohol consumption limits based on the latest scientific research and expanding public education to raise awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer.
The measures proposed in the advisory are similar to those previously enacted to reduce tobacco use, such as mandatory warning labels on packaging and in stores.
The surgeon general encouraged individuals to consider the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk when making decisions about drinking, particularly in terms of the amount consumed.
According to the advisory, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco and obesity.
“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 in the U.S. — yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy stated in a press release.
Following the release of the advisory, shares of alcohol manufacturers, including Molson-Coors and Anheuser-Busch, initially fell by more than 1%.
The advisory also revealed that 72% of U.S. adults reported consuming one or more alcoholic drinks per week between 2019 and 2020. However, less than half of all adults are aware of the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
Globally, alcohol consumption was attributed to 741,300 cancer cases in 2020, according to the surgeon general’s office.
On average, alcohol-related cancer deaths reduce the lives of those affected by 15 years.
Younger Americans are increasingly moving away from alcohol consumption, with many opting for nonalcoholic alternatives.
A Gallup survey released in August found that about two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 34 believe alcohol consumption has a negative impact on health, compared to less than 40% of individuals aged 35 to 54 and 55 and older.