Did you know that drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer?
Alcohol is the cause of about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States. Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind only tobacco and obesity. The type of alcohol consumed, such as beer, wine, and spirits, doesn’t change the risk.
Most Americans are unaware of this risk, which is why the U.S. surgeon general wants to increase awareness by updating the warnings listed on labels of beverages that contain alcohol.
“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 surgeon general’s latest advisory calls for the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to be reassessed to account for cancer risk. It also pushes for more public awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer.
Alcohol increases risk for at least 7 types of cancer
A person’s risk of developing cancer from drinking alcohol depends on a complex interaction of biological, environmental, social, and economic factors, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Your risk for developing cancer increases as your alcohol consumption increases. For cancers such as breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that the risk of developing cancer may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day.
Alcohol increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer:
- Breast
- 16.4% of all breast cancer cases are linked to alcohol consumption
- Colorectum
- Esophagus
- Liver
- Mouth (oral cavity)
- Throat (pharynx)
- Voice box (larynx)