Surgeon General warns that alcohol consumption is the third preventable cause of tumors in the country, behind only tobacco and obesity
The Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, issued this Friday (January 3, 2025) a warning about the relationship between alcohol consumption and increased risk of cancer, defending the inclusion of warnings on the labels of alcoholic beverages.
According to Murthy, alcohol is responsible for around 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 deaths from the disease annually in the United States. The number exceeds the 13,500 deaths caused by alcohol-related traffic accidents in the country.
The health authority says there is a relationship “well established” between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal and liver. For some types of tumors, such as breast, mouth and throat, the risk may increase with just one daily dose.
The report calls for a reevaluation of current alcohol consumption guidelines in the US — which recommend up to two drinks a day for men and one for women — and greater public awareness of the risks. Surveys indicate that less than half of American adults are aware of the relationship between alcohol and cancer.
Shares of alcoholic beverage manufacturers fell after the announcement. Molson-Coors and Anheuser-Busch fell more than 1% on the New York Stock Exchange.
Worldwide, 741,300 cases of cancer were attributed to alcohol consumption in 2020. Alcohol-related cancer deaths reduce victims’ life expectancy by an average of 15 years.
Young people are already reducing consumption
Research released in August showed that about two-thirds of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 consider that alcohol consumption negatively affects their health. Among people aged 35 to 54 and over 55, less than 40% share this view.
