U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory addressing the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. The advisory notes that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco use and obesity, and is directly associated with at least seven types of cancer.
Despite scientific evidence accumulated over the past four decades, fewer than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a significant cancer risk factor. Dr. Murthy underscored the urgency of addressing this gap in understanding, noting that alcohol contributes to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S.
Alcohol is also responsible for over 13,500 traffic fatalities per year, noted Dr. Murthy. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”
The advisory identifies a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, oral, throat, larynx, and pharynx cancer.
Even light drinking—fewer than one drink per day—can increase the risk of cancer. Of all breast cancer cases in the U.S., 16.4% are directly linked to alcohol consumption.
Recommendations for Action
The advisory outlines several steps to mitigate the impact of alcohol on public health:
- Updating Alcohol Warning Labels: Including cancer risk information on beverage labels to educate consumers.
- Reassessing Alcohol Guidelines: Reevaluating recommended limits for alcohol consumption to better account for cancer risks.
- Community Education: Encouraging public health professionals and community groups to emphasize alcohol as a modifiable cancer risk factor.
- Health Care Provider Engagement: Advocating for clinicians to educate patients about the link between alcohol and cancer, and to incorporate alcohol screening and referrals into routine care.
The full advisory is available online.
