In a document published in early January, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, whose term ended with the new administration, warned: “Do not drink, not even in moderation.” The crucial element behind his alert is the relationship between moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages and at least seven types of cancer: of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, liver, breast, and colorectum. Roughly 20,000 annual deaths from cancer in the USA are associated with alcohol consumption, more than the traffic accidents caused by drinking. The link is not new, but the evidence is becoming more compelling. Based on a 2019 survey that indicated that less than half of Americans associate alcoholic drinks with a risk of cancer, Murthy recommends changing product labeling to warn people of the risk, as is already done for cigarettes (ScienceAlert, January 13; Pesquisa FAPESP issue nº 327).
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