The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory underscoring the significant cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption and advocating for warning labels to inform consumers of these dangers.
The advisory identifies alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco use and obesity. Released on Friday, the report highlights the need for revised guidelines on alcohol consumption limits, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their drinking habits.
According to the advisory, alcohol use contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and approximately 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the United States. These deaths, the report notes, shorten lives by an average of 15 years.
While alcohol packaging currently warns of risks such as birth defects and impaired operation of machinery, new labels would specifically address cancer risks. However, implementing such changes requires approval from the US Congress.
The advisory also sheds light on the types of cancers linked to alcohol consumption. It states that alcohol increases the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer, including colorectal, breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, and voice box cancers.
Breast cancer, particularly in women, constitutes the largest burden of alcohol-related cancer cases, with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019, accounting for 16.4% of the total breast cancer cases. Among women, 60% of alcohol-related cancer deaths are due to breast cancer. In men, liver cancer and colorectal cancer account for the majority of alcohol-related cancer deaths at approximately 33% and 21%, respectively.
The advisory highlights the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, with 83% of the estimated 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths annually occurring among those who exceed the federal guidelines of two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Alarmingly, even those consuming alcohol within the recommended limits account for the remaining 17% of such deaths.
Explaining the biological mechanisms, the report identifies four ways alcohol contributes to cancer development. It includes the breakdown of alcohol into acetaldehyde, a compound that damages DNA; the induction of oxidative stress, leading to further DNA and cellular damage; the alteration of hormone levels, such as increased estrogen, which raises breast cancer risk; and enhanced absorption of carcinogens.
Despite the established links, awareness remains low among Americans. A 2019 survey cited in the advisory revealed that only 45% of Americans recognised alcohol as a cancer risk factor, compared to 91% for radiation exposure and 89% for tobacco use.
The advisory follows similar findings from recent studies. An August report by the Autonomous University of Madrid highlighted increased cancer risks for individuals with poorer health who engaged in high-risk drinking.