The general practitioner publishes a new opinion

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

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said there is a “well-established” link between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectum, esophagus and liver. For cancers, including those of the breast, mouth and throat, the increased risk may start around one drink or less per day, according to his office.

As part of the advisory, the surgeon general called for policy changes that could help reduce alcohol-related cancer. He insisted that alcohol labels be more visible and include a warning about increased cancer risk, to reevaluate recommended alcohol consumption limits based on the latest research, and to expand education to raise awareness. more people are aware that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer.

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

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer when deciding whether or not to drink or consume in quantity.

Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind tobacco and obesity, according to the advisory.

“Alcohol is a well-established and preventable cause of cancer, responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States – more than the 13,500 deaths per year in motor vehicle accidents. alcohol-related road safety risks – and yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy said in a press release.

Actions by alcohol manufacturers, including Molson Coors And Anheuser-Busch initially fell more than 1% after the advisory.

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

Worldwide, 741,300 cases of cancer were attributed to alcohol consumption in 2020, according to the surgeon general.

On average, alcohol-related cancer deaths shorten the lives of those who die by 15 years.

Young Americans are already increasingly moving away from alcohol, and many are turning to non-alcoholic alternatives. About two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 34 say alcohol consumption negatively affects health, compared with fewer than 40 percent of people ages 35 to 54 and 55 and older, according to a Gallup survey published in august.