It's not just a matter of the liver or car accidents: the relationship between alcohol and cancer is much more serious than most people imagine. One fact above all: in the United States, alcohol causes more cancer deaths than drunken car accidents. An inconvenient truth that has prompted the surgeon general Vivek Murthy to ask for drastic interventions with a report quite alarmed.
The correlation between alcohol and cancer revealed by the numbers
The statistics are alarming: every year in the United States there are approximately 100.000 cases of cancer e 20.000 dead caused by alcohol. A number significantly higher than 13.500 victims of road accidents related to alcohol abuse. Research has shown that alcohol may increase the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver and throat.
And in Europe? In the old continent the situation is even worse: alcohol consumption causes over 244.000 cases of cancer per year.
The most worrying data that emerged from the surgeon general's survey concerns the lack of public awareness. Only the 45% of Americans adults are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer. A percentage too low that has pushed health authorities to consider more drastic measures to inform the population about the risks.
The new labelling proposals
Following the example of cigarettes, Murthy proposes introducing warning labels on alcoholic beverages that clearly highlight the risk of cancer. The proposal will have to go through Congressional approval. With the president-elect Donald Trump, known teetotaler, the incoming administration may prove more receptive to this initiative than expected: or, since Trump is also a well-known businessman, will corporate profits prevail over awareness?
In any case, in addition to the labels, the surgeon general suggests a series of coordinated actions. Among these, the Review of alcohol consumption guidelines by government health agencies and a greater emphasis on risk communication by doctors and public health groups. The goal? To create widespread awareness of the dangers of alcohol, enabling citizens to make more informed choices.
Alcohol and Cancer: The Impact on Public Health
"The alcohol It is a well-known and preventable cause of cancer, yet most Americans are unaware of this risk,” he said. Murthy. “This consultation paper outlines steps we can take to raise awareness of alcohol-related cancer risks and minimise harm.”
The correlation between alcohol and cancer, however, does not spare even those who drink moderately. Some studies suggest that even modest consumption (one drink or less per day) can increase the risk of breast, throat and mouth cancer.
Alcohol is not just a social element or a pleasure at the table: it is a substance that can alter the course of our lives in ways that we are only now beginning to fully understand. The glass half full, in this case, may be the empty one: because true freedom does not lie in drinking unconsciously, but in knowing exactly what (and how much) we are drinking.
