- Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has released a report warning that alcohol causes cancer.
- It is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the US, after smoking and obesity, he said.
- The report follows a growing number of studies showing the potential harms of drinking alcohol.
The US Surgeon General wants to see cancer warnings on wine, beer, and spirits.
Alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, but less than half of Americans recognize it as a risk factor, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an advisory published January 3.
This is a stark contrast to the 89% of Americans who are aware of the links between smoking cigarettes and cancer, according to a 2019 survey of US adults aged 18 and older carried out by the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity.
Research has found that drinking alcohol leads to an increased risk of seven cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, liver cancer, mouth cancer, and throat and larynx cancers, the advisory said.
The risk increases the more a person drinks, and for certain cancers like breast, mouth, and throat, the risk can start to increase at one or fewer drinks a day, the advisory added.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
