WASHINGTON — U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a new advisory Thursday highlighting the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer.
The advisory, titled Alcohol and Cancer Risk, emphasizes that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco use and obesity.
Murthy underlined the urgency of raising awareness, noting that less than half of Americans are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer despite decades of scientific evidence.
“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the United States,” said Dr. Murthy.
“This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”
The advisory highlights alcohol’s role in increasing the risk of seven cancers: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, mouth, throat, and laryngeal cancers.
For breast cancer, approximately 16.4% of cases are attributed to alcohol consumption.
Even minimal alcohol use — around one drink per day — can elevate cancer risk, particularly for breast, mouth, and throat cancers.
The advisory outlines several strategies to address alcohol-related cancer risks, including:
Updating Warning Labels: Revising the Surgeon General’s health warning labels on alcoholic beverages to include cancer risk information.
Reassessing Guidelines: Reevaluating alcohol consumption guidelines to reflect cancer risk.
Raising Public Awareness: Strengthening public health education campaigns to emphasize alcohol as a modifiable cancer risk factor.
Clinical Interventions: Encouraging healthcare providers to inform patients about the link between alcohol and cancer, and to screen for and address excessive alcohol use.
The advisory also calls on community groups and public health professionals to expand educational efforts to inform the public and reduce alcohol-related cancer cases and deaths.