It seems that far too many Americans are in the dark about alcohols cancer risk.
Less than half of all Americans even know that alcohol can cause cancer, the surgeon general notes.
Research studies throughout the years have consistently shown that alcohol can be a major risk factor for cancer.
Alcohol helps cause 100,000 new cancer cases every year in the U.S., a new advisory from the surgeon general warns.© Dirk Hoffmann via Getty
A 2021 study estimated that alcoholhelps causearound 700,000 cancer cases worldwide annually, for instance.
And its responsible for a fair share of cancer in the U.S. as well.
This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohols cancer risk and minimize harm.
Remarkably, alcohol may contribute to one of every six breast cancer cases.
Much of the general public remains unaware of the connection between alcohol and cancer, however.
Nationally representative survey data hasfoundthat only 45% of Americans over 18 know about alcohols role in causing cancer.
Ultimately, any new warning labels will require approval from Congress.
But its still unclear whether Trump or the GOP-led House and Senate would back any such change.
Murthy has also called for other actions to increase the publics awareness of alcohol and its association with cancer.
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