U.S. Surgeon General Calls For Cancer Warnings On Alcohol

Advisory Identifies Direct Link Between Alcohol And Cancer Risk

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office recently issued an Advisory highlighting the causal relationship between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. The Advisory, which underscores alcohol consumption as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., aims to raise public awareness about the life-threatening consequences of drinking.

According to the Surgeon General’s Office, 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths occur every year. This figure is startling to many Americans who are aware that excessive drinking can lead to health problems but are unaware of its direct link to cancer. According to the Advisory, only 45% of Americans claim to know about the increased risk, highlighting a large and dangerous gap in public awareness.

The Advisory makes several recommendations, including expanded education efforts and cancer warning labels placed on alcohol containers, to help fill this gap.

Four Ways Alcohol Causes Cancer

After reviewing and assessing numerous observational studies and metanalytic reviews over the last two decades, research has established that there is a direct correlation between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk, regardless of the type of alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, etc.) ingested.

Using this information, the advisory identifies four ways that the ethanol in alcohol-containing beverages increases the risk of developing cancer:

Method 1:

After consumption, the alcohol is broken down into the chemical compound, acetaldehyde, which is known to damage DNA in multiple ways, increasing the risk for cancer.

Method 2:

Alcohol consumption can lead to oxidative stress, a condition where there are too many free radicals and not enough antioxidants in the body to neutralize them. This imbalance leads to increased inflammation and damage to DNA, cells, and proteins, all increasing cancer risk.

Method 3:

Alcohol alters the levels of many hormones, including estrogen, which increases the risk of breast cancer.

Method 4:

Alcohol dissolves carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) while also altering cells in the throat and mouth, making it easier for the absorption of these carcinogens into the body. 

Alcohol Increases Risk For At Least 7 Types Of Cancer

The advisory goes on to further identify alcohol as a major risk factor for seven types of cancer, including colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), and breast (in women). Breast, liver, and colorectal cancer account for the majority of alcohol-related cancer deaths, with data highlighting:

• Approximately 60% of alcohol-related deaths in women are due to breast cancer.
• Liver cancer accounts for 33% of alcohol-related deaths in men.
• Colorectal cancer constitutes 21% of alcohol-related deaths in men.

This data underscores the dangerous role that alcohol plays in increasing the risk of some of the deadliest forms of cancer, especially among heavy drinkers and those suffering from alcohol use disorder.

The Call For Cancer Warning Labels

The advisory highlighted that while Americans know alcohol can be harmful to overall health, many are not aware of the blatant and proven correlation between alcohol and cancer. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy states, “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 … yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”

The recommendation receiving the most attention is a call requiring cancer warning labels to be placed on alcoholic products. The goal of these labels would be to inform the public about the cancer risks associated with drinking. While the effectiveness of these labels would take years of research to substantiate, the Surgeon General asserts that immediate public awareness is a critical first step in reducing dangerous alcohol consumption.

While the idea behind the labels is relatively simple, the reality of getting them on alcoholic products would be an uphill battle. Currently, alcohol labels in the U.S. include warnings about the risks of drinking while pregnant or before driving and have not been updated since they were originally adopted in 1988. Only Congress can mandate new labels, and opponents of expanded alcohol labeling have been successful in arguing that the addition of cancer-related messaging could stigmatize alcohol consumption, harm the billion-dollar alcohol industry, and create unnecessary fear. Still, with mounting evidence stressing the connection between alcohol and cancer, the fight for adding a cancer warning to alcoholic products has never been more pressing.

Other recommendations in the Advisory include a reassessment of the alcohol consumption guidelines and an increase in educational efforts. Additionally, it calls for healthcare providers to inform their patients about the increased cancer risk, promote the use of alcohol screenings, and provide treatment referrals when necessary. While smaller scale, these local initiatives still have the potential to make a difference in consumers’ alcohol consumption and health.

Support For Cutting Back On Alcohol

While the Surgeon General’s findings can be unsettling, help is available for those looking to reduce their alcohol consumption and reduce their risk for the correlated negative health effects, like cancer.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use or addiction, contact a treatment provider today. They can help you take the first step toward a healthier future.