(DCWatchdog.com) – In a staggering wake-up call, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a new advisory on the risks of alcohol consumption, challenging the all-too-common belief that moderate drinking is safe.
See the tweet below!
This revelation is poised to shake up societal norms that have long accepted alcohol as a harmless indulgence, especially in moderate amounts.
As alcohol shares carcinogenic status with tobacco and asbestos, it is high time Americans reconsider their drinking habits.
In a bold step, Murthy calls for risk warnings on alcoholic beverages, highlighting links between alcohol and seven types of cancer, including breast, throat, and liver cancers.
According to Murthy, the data have been building and now offer strong evidence of this causal link.
Yet, shockingly, most Americans remain unaware of this sobering reality.
The advisory underscores alcohol’s classification as a “Group 1” carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), aligning with tobacco and asbestos.
The advisory shows the urgent need for cultural shift akin to the one against smoking.
Countries like Ireland and South Korea already require cancer warnings on alcohol labels.
Moreover, countries have revised consumption limits; Canada, for example, recommends no more than two drinks per week.
It’s clear that change is taking place globally, leaving the U.S. lagging.
“The direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is well-established for at least seven types of cancer …regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits) that is consumed,” Murthy added, cited by The BBC.
Murthy suggests reassessing recommended alcohol consumption limits, revising outdated warning labels, and enhancing education on the risks.
The advisory encourages healthcare providers to promote alcohol screenings and expand public awareness efforts.
New labels can’t come soon enough—U.S. labels haven’t seen an update since 1988, and changing them requires an act of Congress.
This signifies the bureaucratic hurdles faced by public health advocates.
From both economic and health perspectives, this advisory is swiftly impacting.
Share prices of the U.S.-listed alcoholic beverage companies fell by up to 4% following the announcement. This financial hit could herald a broader shift, as consumers become more conscious of alcohol’s health risks.
Paul’s insight reaches critical note, “The safest thing for all sorts of health outcomes, not just cancer, is no alcohol consumption. But, of course, not many people go that route because alcohol is such an important, central part of our social and cultural customs.”
“From a strictly cancer perspective, there is no safe amount of alcohol,” says Dr. Noelle LoConte.
NEW: Today, I’m releasing a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the causal link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Alcohol is the 3rd leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., contributing to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. pic.twitter.com/sKTlPAZlFw
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) January 3, 2025
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