U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued a new Advisory highlighting alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. The Advisory reveals that alcohol causes approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually, with direct links to seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and liver cancers, among others.
Despite four decades of scientific evidence, less than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a cancer risk factor, prompting recommendations to update warning labels on alcohol beverages and reassess consumption guidelines. For some cancers, risk may increase with as little as one drink per day, leading the Advisory to call for expanded education efforts and increased awareness among healthcare providers and the public. The recommendations emphasize the need for healthcare providers to inform patients of this link and promote alcohol screening and treatment referrals when necessary.