Overview

• The U.S. Surgeon General's advisory warns that alcohol consumption is a preventable cause of cancer, tied to approximately 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
• Alcohol is linked to seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage consumed.
• Research shows even light drinking may elevate cancer risk, with stronger associations observed for heavy consumption and certain cancer types like esophageal and breast cancer.
• Alcohol increases cancer risk by breaking down into acetaldehyde, a DNA-damaging chemical, and through other biological mechanisms like hormone level changes and nutrient absorption impairment.
• The advisory calls for public health campaigns, warning labels on alcohol products, and discussions between health professionals and patients to raise awareness of these risks.