(AURN News) — U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued a new advisory citing the connection between alcohol and cancer. He is also calling for warnings to be updated with the risk added to alcoholic beverages.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cites a direct link between drinking alcohol and seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, oral, throat, and laryngeal cancers.
According to the Surgeon General, alcohol is responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year.
“This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm,” Dr. Murthy said in a statement.
HHS noted that cancer risk increases with alcohol consumption, with some cancers potentially developing from as little as one drink a day. Officials also identified alcohol consumption as the third leading preventable cause of cancer.
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