100,000 alcohol-related cancer cases and 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths...
On Friday U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in a report, alcoholic drinks should carry cancer risk warning labels.
The report cites a direct link between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including of the breast, colorectal, liver, and mouth. An estimated 16.4 percent of total breast cancer cases are linked to drinking alcohol.
There are almost 100,000 alcohol-related cancer cases and about 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths in the U.S. each year, the report found. After tobacco and obesity alcohol is the third-leading cause of cancer in the U.S.
While research has shown a link between alcohol and cancer, “the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy said in a statement.
People who do drink alcohol are likely familiar with the current health warning label, which reads:
According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.
Dr. Amanda Berger, senior vice president of Science and Research at the Distilled Spirits Council, a trade group representing alcohol producers, stated that the current warning has long been in place to raise awareness about the possible risks of drinking alcohol. She also noted that many lifestyle choices come with inherent risks.
She added that the group does “not recommend that anyone drink to achieve health benefits.”
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