Alcohol consumption increases your risk of these 7 types of cancer
If you’re taking on Dry January or simply rethinking your drinking habits, a new advisory from the U.S. surgeon general might give you even more reason to pause before reaching for your next alcoholic beverage. The advisory, released today, draws a direct connection between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States—greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S.—yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.” The report reveals that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, and is responsible for around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. The cancers most strongly linked to alcohol include: Breast Cancer Colorectal Cancer Esophageal Cancer Liver Cancer Mouth (Oral Cavity) Cancer Throat (Pharynx) Cancer Voice Box (Larynx) Cancer HHS.gov For breast cancer, the numbers are particularly striking: 16.4% of total cases are attributed to alcohol consumption. And the risk isn’t limited to heavy drinkers—evidence shows that even drinking one drink a day can increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, and other areas. The surgeon general’s advisory calls for urgent public health action, including clearer warning labels on alcoholic beverages and a reassessment of safe drinking guidelines. Despite growing scientific evidence of alcohol’s cancer risks, less than half of Americans are aware of this connection. The advisory urges healthcare professionals to discuss these risks with patients, empowering individuals to make more informed choices about their drinking habits.
Business Economic Syndicated News 
If you’re taking on Dry January or simply rethinking your drinking habits, a new advisory from the U.S. surgeon general might give you even more reason to pause before reaching for your next alcoholic beverage.
The advisory, released today, draws a direct connection between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer.
“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States—greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S.—yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”
The report reveals that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, and is responsible for around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually.
The cancers most strongly linked to alcohol include:
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Mouth (Oral Cavity) Cancer
- Throat (Pharynx) Cancer
- Voice Box (Larynx) Cancer
For breast cancer, the numbers are particularly striking: 16.4% of total cases are attributed to alcohol consumption. And the risk isn’t limited to heavy drinkers—evidence shows that even drinking one drink a day can increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the breast, mouth, throat, and other areas.
The surgeon general’s advisory calls for urgent public health action, including clearer warning labels on alcoholic beverages and a reassessment of safe drinking guidelines.
Despite growing scientific evidence of alcohol’s cancer risks, less than half of Americans are aware of this connection. The advisory urges healthcare professionals to discuss these risks with patients, empowering individuals to make more informed choices about their drinking habits.
