The ill-effects of alcohol consumption is well-known. However, a recent advisory issued by the US Surgeon General declares that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
“This body of scientific evidence demonstrates a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx),” the advisory states.
Several studies maintain that alcohol is associated with the risk of a range of cancers, particularly breast cancer in women, followed by cancers that affect the digestive system.
The advisory also maintains that the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer. “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,” it stated.
The link between alcohol and cancer is known and established. However, this is usually linked with heavy drinking, with the US Dietary Guidelines setting “healthy” limits of one to two drinks per day for men, and one or less for women.
Even that, the new advisory says, is too much. An estimated 17 percent of the 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths per year fall within the recommended consumption limits.
“In 2019, an estimated 96,730 cancer cases were related to alcohol consumption including 42,400 in men and 54,330 in women,” the advisory states. “Globally, 741,300 cancer cases were related to alcohol consumption in 2020; 185,100 of those cases were related to consumption of approximately two drinks daily or fewer.”
The report also revealed that the largest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the US is for breast cancer in women with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019. This represents 16.4 percent of the approximately 270,000 total breast cancer cases for women. The advisory has also recommended updating the warning labels on alcohol to include a warning about cancer risk.
It is noteworthy that the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has flagged alcohol as Group 1 carcinogen. Other members of that group include formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, tobacco, processed meat, and asbestos.