The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, is urging Congress to require warning labels informing consumers about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
Murthy released a new advisory detailing how drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
“Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer, behind tobacco and obesity,” Murthy told NPR, who will leave the position at the end of this month. “Just to put this in perspective, alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cancer cases in the United States each year and 20,000 cancer deaths.”
There is a growing consensus that consuming less alcohol is best. But how much less does that mean?
While there is no precise answer on how much alcohol can be consumed without increasing health risks, many experts say an acceptable amount ranges from about one drink per week to no more than seven drinks per week.
This is significantly lower than what is currently recommended. An ongoing review may lead to changes in U.S. guidelines this year. And many experts agree that the current advice, which is up to 14 drinks per week for men and seven for women, is outdated and may be too high.
A growing group of researchers points to a link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of seven types of cancer, stroke, and premature death. But what is still debatable is the exact threshold at which risks increase. This likely varies from person to person based on their genetic risks and other lifestyle habits.
Research suggests that drinking daily is riskier. For example, one study found that people who consume alcohol three days a week have lower risks compared to those who drink every day.
When it comes to the harms of alcohol, science is clear that there is a dose-response relationship. The more you drink, the greater the risk of negative outcomes.
But, considering all the lifestyle factors that contribute to disease, from diet and exercise to sleep and stress, it’s complex to figure out an exact amount of alcohol that is acceptable, whether it’s one, two, or no drinks per day.
So, the advice from experts here is this: You don’t have to completely deprive yourself of that drink with friends, but it’s certain that less is more.
Source: npr