The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, has issued a stark warning about the increased risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption, calling for stricter awareness measures and enhanced public education.
In a statement released Friday, Murthy highlighted that alcohol is a significant, preventable cause of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and throat cancers.
The advisory emphasizes that the risk is consistent regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage consumed.
“Alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the United States, surpassing the 13,500 fatalities linked to alcohol-related traffic crashes,” Murthy stated.
The advisory recommended mandatory cancer risk warning labels on alcoholic beverages, akin to cigarette packaging labels, to better inform consumers about potential dangers.
It also called for a reassessment of alcohol consumption guidelines, stressing the need for public health professionals and community organizations to amplify educational efforts about alcohol as a modifiable cancer risk factor.
For cancers like breast and throat cancers, even moderate consumption—one or fewer drinks per day—can pose risks. Factors such as genetics and environmental influences also play a role in determining individual cancer vulnerability.
Current U.S. dietary guidelines advise men to limit alcohol to two drinks daily, while women are advised to stick to one.
Global health bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), assert that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely safe.
WHO emphasizes that even minimal intake can negatively affect health.
In Nigeria, the situation is exacerbated by the lack of established national guidelines on alcohol consumption.
Despite this, the country ranks among the highest in alcohol usage in sub-Saharan Africa, with alcohol abuse contributing to over 29% of deaths, including half of all road accidents, according to a Gatefield report.
Moreover, Nigeria holds the global record for years of life lost due to alcohol consumption. Coupled with a significant cancer burden—124,815 new cases and 78,899 deaths recorded in 2020—public health experts warn of an impending surge in cancer cases by 85% within the next 15 years, as reported by The Lancet.
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