With recent advisories from the U.S. Surgeon General urging for cancer warnings on alcohol labels, many Americans are now contemplating their drinking habits. Just how many drinks can one enjoy each week without amplifying the risk of cancer?
The conversation about alcohol consumption and cancer risk is intensifying after U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy suggested labeling alcoholic beverages with cancer warnings. According to Murthy, alcohol ranks as the third-leading preventable cause of seven types of cancer, right after tobacco use and obesity. He emphasized, ‘Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States.’
These seven cancers include breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, and mouth. Among women, breast cancer is the primary alcohol-related cancer death, while for men, liver and colorectal cancers lead the chart. Alarmingly, fewer than half of Americans recognize the connection between alcohol and cancer, and awareness appears to be stagnant despite growing research backing this link.
Despite the lack of awareness, data shows that about 72% of U.S. adults have at least one drink a week. This widespread consumption is concerning as Dr. Murthy’s report highlights, ‘The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer.’ Leading health agencies, including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, classify alcohol as a major cancer-causing agent, on par with asbestos and formaldehyde.
The question arises: Is total abstinence necessary, or is there a safe level of alcohol consumption? However, experts, including Dr. Murthy, remain cautious, stating, ‘There is no magic level of safe alcohol consumption for the entire population.’ Yet there is consensus that reducing alcohol intake does correlate with lowered cancer risk.
Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard points out that heavy drinking, defined as three to five drinks daily, heightens the risk for some gastrointestinal cancers. Even two drinks a day can increase cancer risk by 25% compared to those who abstain. For breast cancer, having three to four drinks per week raises the risk by 15%. ‘Breast tissue seems to be particularly sensitive to alcohol,’ Willett notes. On the other hand, Dr. Joseph Sparano suggests that consuming less than one drink weekly carries the least risk.
The type of alcohol—beer, wine, or spirits—appears not to matter much, as a 1983 study revealed that all increase cancer risk. Jiyoung Ahn from NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center explains that alcohol is converted in the body to acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and increases cancer risk. Moreover, alcohol enhances the absorption of tobacco carcinogens, exacerbating the danger for smokers.
Can reducing alcohol intake curb cancer risk? According to Mary Beth Terry from Columbia University, cutting back, especially by mid-life, can lower the chance of developing the most common types of breast cancer. While any damage from alcohol may be partly reversible, experts agree that merely changing labels will not suffice to alter drinking habits. Instead, public health initiatives similar to those for smoking are necessary to spread awareness.
While the debate continues over the precise amount of alcohol that’s safe to consume, one fact stands firm: reducing intake is beneficial. Given that even moderate drinking can increase cancer risk, the onus is on individuals to assess their consumption levels carefully. As the push for clearer warnings and public health campaigns gains momentum, making informed choices about alcohol will be crucial.
Source: Yahoo
