A recent advisory issued by the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for updated health warning labels on alcoholic beverages, citing the increased cancer risk.An updated warning label on alcoholic beverage to reflect cancer risk would require approval from Congress. The American Cancer Society recently commended this advisory, saying: “It is imperative that people […]
A recent advisory issued by the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for updated health warning labels on alcoholic beverages, citing the increased cancer risk.An updated warning label on alcoholic beverage to reflect cancer risk would require approval from Congress. The American Cancer Society recently commended this advisory, saying: “It is imperative that people are made aware of the potential impact of alcohol consumption and are met with recommendations on how to reduce their risk.”
“The reality is that more people die every year of preventable alcohol-related cancers than drunken driving, and I think most people probably don’t realize that,” Medical Oncologist Dr. Dale Shepard with Cleveland Clinic says.The advisory that says every year in the US, alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths. It’s linked to at least seven types of cancer:
That risk rises with the amount of alcohol consumed. “I think, in general, moderation is key,” Shepard says.
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Esophagus
- Liver
- Mouth
- Throat
- Voice box
Shepard says he hopes this advisory brings awareness, as the Surgeon General’s office says that less than half of Americans are aware of increased cancer risks from alcohol and that it’s the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US.”Lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on cancer risk, risk for heart disease, risk for diabetes,” Shepard says. “We can’t underestimate the ability that we have to change our lifestyle and make ourselves healthier.”
