The United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued a warning about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
In a new Surgeon General’s Advisory released on Friday, Dr. Murthy emphasised the dangers of alcohol use, describing it as a significant, preventable cause of cancer in the United States.
“This advisory highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year,” the advisory states. “The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer.”
The advisory added that even minimal alcohol consumption can elevate cancer risk for certain types. “For certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day.”
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A Surgeon General’s Advisory “is a public statement that calls the American people’s attention to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nation’s immediate awareness and action.”
Previous advisories have addressed pressing concerns such as youth mental health, health misinformation, addiction and substance misuse, and tobacco.
