The US Surgeon General Warns That No Amount of Alcohol Is Safe to Consume

The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory stating that no level of alcohol consumption is considered safe.

A report based on a comprehensive review of scientific studies links alcohol to an increased risk of various cancers, with breast cancer in women being most affected, followed by cancers of the digestive system.

The review reveals that alcohol alone accounts for nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the US.

Alcohol and Cancer

According to the advisory, “This body of scientific evidence establishes a causal link between alcohol use and a higher risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectal, esophageal, liver, oral cavity, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers.”

It further emphasizes, “The more alcohol consumed, the higher the cancer risk. For certain cancers, such as breast, mouth, and throat, the evidence suggests that this risk may begin to rise with as little as one drink or less per day.”

Guidance on alcohol consumption can often seem contradictory, with some studies suggesting moderate drinking may benefit certain aspects of health, while others emphasize its harmful effects.

Challenging the “Safe” Limits of Alcohol Consumption

The link between alcohol and cancer is well-documented, though it is typically associated with heavy drinking. The US Dietary Guidelines recommend “healthy” limits of one to two drinks per day for men and one or fewer for women. However, the new advisory challenges this, stating that even these levels are too high. Approximately 17% of the 20,000 annual alcohol-related cancer deaths occur among those who drink within these recommended limits.

“In 2019, researchers linked alcohol consumption to an estimated 96,730 cancer cases in the US, including 42,400 in men and 54,330 in women,” the advisory reports. “Globally, they associated 741,300 cancer cases in 2020 with alcohol use, including 185,100 cases from consuming about two drinks per day or less.”

Alcohol increases cancer risk through four primary mechanisms: inducing oxidative stress that damages DNA and proteins, altering hormone levels (notably raising breast cancer risk), accelerating the absorption of carcinogens, and breaking down into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that also harms DNA.

“The greatest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the US falls on breast cancer in women, with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019—approximately 16.4% of the 270,000 total breast cancer cases that year,” the report states.

Alcohol as a Group 1 Carcinogen

The advisory aims to raise awareness about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, as nearly half of American adults remain unaware of this connection. Notably, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, alongside substances such as formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, tobacco, processed meat, and asbestos.

With the US Dietary Guidelines set for revision this year, the Surgeon General’s office advocates for adding cancer risk warnings to alcohol labels and expanding education efforts. These updates aim to ensure individuals have access to the latest scientific evidence to make informed decisions.

The complete Surgeon General’s Advisory, along with its references, is available on the Office of the Surgeon General’s website.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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