The Surgeon General issues a new advisory

A customer drinks a glass of beer at Saxton Pub in Austin, Texas, on April 5, 2023.

Brandon Bell | Getty Images

The U.S. surgeon general issued a new warning Friday about the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk and urged policy changes to reduce the number of alcohol-related cancers.

The US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said there was a “proven” link between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colon, esophageal and liver cancer. According to his office, the increased risk of cancers such as breast, mouth and throat cancer can start at about one or fewer drinks per day.

As part of the recommendation, the surgeon general called for policy changes that could help reduce alcohol-related cancers. He urged that alcohol labels be more visible and include a warning about the increased risk of cancer, that recommended alcohol consumption limits be reassessed based on the latest research, and that education be expanded to raise general awareness that alcohol consumption is the Cancer risk increased.

The efforts outlined in the Recommendation are similar to those already implemented to reduce tobacco use, including a range of mandatory warnings on packaging and in stores.

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and a higher risk of cancer when deciding whether to drink or how much to drink.

According to the report, alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity.

“Alcohol is a known, preventable cause of cancer, responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the United States – more than the 13,500 alcohol-related traffic deaths per year in the United States – and yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk consciously,” Murthy said in a press release.

Stocks from alcohol manufacturers incl Molson Coors And Anheuser Busch After the announcement, the price initially fell by more than 1%.

According to the report, 72% of U.S. adults reported having one or more drinks per week between 2019 and 2020, but less than half of all adults are aware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.

According to the surgeon general, 741,300 cancer cases worldwide were attributed to alcohol consumption in 2020.

On average, alcohol-related cancer deaths shorten the life of the deceased by 15 years.

Younger Americans are already increasingly avoiding alcohol and many are turning to non-alcoholic alternatives. According to a Gallup poll released in August, about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 34 say drinking alcohol has a negative impact on their health, compared to fewer than 40% of people ages 35 to 54 and 55 years and older.