Alcohol Tied to “at Least” 7 Cancers, Surgeon General Says

Ever wonder if your nightly glass of wine or beer could be putting you at risk for cancer? According to a new public health advisory from Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, alcohol consumption is directly linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, making it one of the most significant preventable health threats today. 

This announcement, released on January 3, offers some startling statistics: alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., responsible for approximately 100,000 new cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually. Yet, less than half of Americans are aware of this connection. To raise awareness, the Surgeon General is recommending that health warnings on alcohol labels be updated to include cancer risk.

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Read on to learn more about the surgeon general’s report and why getting educated can help protect your long-term health.

What the Advisory Says

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s new advisory says that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colorectal, esophageal, mouth, throat and voice box cancers.

Cancer risk is not affected by the type of alcohol consumed, whether beer, wine or spirits. The report stresses that even moderate drinking can increase cancer risk, with some cancers showing increased likelihood after as little as one drink per day.

“This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm,” said Murthy in a statement.

For example, alcohol accounts for 16.4% of breast cancer cases in the U.S. This statistic shows how significantly alcohol can increase cancer risk, particularly among women. But it’s not just breast cancer—alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of cancers, and the risk increases as alcohol intake rises.

Despite the clear connection between alcohol and cancer, public awareness is lacking. The new advisory calls for a new and urgent approach to communicate this risk to the American public. One of the major recommendations is to update the existing health warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages to include cancer risk. These warnings, already required for tobacco products, would alert consumers to the potential dangers of alcohol consumption and help people make more informed decisions.

While the existing guidelines suggest moderate drinking—up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men—these guidelines have not yet fully accounted for the cancer risks.

The advisory proposes that public health professionals, community groups and healthcare providers step up their education efforts on the relationship between alcohol and cancer and encourage people to think critically about their drinking habits.

This new advisory is an urgent call for public health action as cancer remains one of the leading causes of death globally. The hope is that updating health warnings on alcohol labels and expanding public education will help reduce the number of alcohol-related cancers and deaths.

While the occasional drink may not be immediately harmful, regular alcohol consumption—especially in amounts higher than recommended—can increase cancer risk over time. As always, the best approach is to stay informed and make health-conscious decisions.

The Bottom Line

The U.S. Surgeon General’s new public health advisory emphasizes the link between alcohol and cancer. It calls for updates to alcohol labeling, changes to consumption guidelines, and increased public awareness around the health risks of regular drinking. As research continues to show the dangers of alcohol, these efforts aim to prevent thousands of cancer cases and deaths each year.