CNN: U.S. Surgeon General Warns Alcohol Is a ‘Leading Preventable Cause of Cancer’

EXCERPT:

TIRRELL: "So, today, the U.S. surgeon general is issuing this advisory, noting that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, and notes that even though this scientific research has been emerging, a majority of Americans actually don‘t realize that risk between alcohol and cancer. In their release, they‘re noting that alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven different types of cancer. And as part of this advisory, the surgeon general is also calling for an update to the health warning labels on alcoholic beverages to include this link to cancer. He notes that there are 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths associated with cancer that are linked to alcohol in the United States every year, and so those seven different types of cancer that have the link to alcohol consumption are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophagus cancer, liver, mouth, throat and voice box cancer. He notes that more than 16% of breast cancer cases are attributable to alcohol consumption, Sarah. So this is something that‘s trying to raise awareness to make sure that folks know about this link, where the scientific evidence has been going for some time."