Researchers: "Moderate Drinking Causes More Harm Than Benefit"
"Half of US Citizens Unaware of Alcohol Risks"
Campaign Urged and Warning Labels Requested
A study has found that alcohol consumption may be one of the factors contributing to the increasing incidence of breast and colorectal cancers among adults under 50.
On the 18th (local time), the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) released a report, as reported by the US daily The New York Times (NYT), stating that "an estimated 40% of all cancer cases are related to modifiable risk factors, one of which may be alcohol consumption." The report pointed out that excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of developing six types of malignant tumors, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancers.
In fact, about 5.4% of cancer diagnoses in the US in 2019 were attributed to alcohol consumption. Particularly among people in their 30s, cancer incidence rates significantly increased between 2010 and 2019, with the most common cancers being breast cancer, thyroid cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer in that order. Cases of colorectal cancer in those under 50 also increased by 1.9% annually from 2011 to 2019.
For several years, moderate alcohol consumption has been considered beneficial for preventing heart disease in American society. However, this study emerged amid a fundamental reexamination of alcohol's impact on health. Dr. Jane Figueiredo of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who participated in the AACR report, expressed concern, saying, "51% of the population is unaware that alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer." Due to public perception, alcohol consumption has not decreased, and consequently, cancer incidence rates continue to rise.
It is also known that less than one-third of women aged 18 to 25 are aware that alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer. She added, "There is a myth that red wine benefits cardiovascular health, but there are many ways to maintain a healthy heart, and the potential benefits of alcohol do not outweigh the increased risk of cancer."
The AACR recommended lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, keeping an appropriate weight, exercising, and avoiding exposure to ultraviolet rays and pollutants, along with reducing alcohol consumption. Furthermore, it urged the government to raise public awareness through campaigns and to require warning labels about cancer on alcoholic beverages.
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