A popular belief says what to take a glass of alcohol daily is good for your health. However, different scientific studies have proven the opposite. The World Health Organization He already warned that “no form of consumption alcohol is risk-free. Even a low level of consumption carries risks and can cause harm.”
Alcohol consumption in the Americas region is 40% higher than the world average. It is a modifiable risk factor for more than 200 health disorders, and one of its effects is increased risk of people developing 7 types of cancer. It is associated with an increased risk of having cancer of the mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, and colorectal cancer.
In your latest reportthe American Association for Cancer Research (better known by its English acronym AACR) focused on the fact that 40% of all cancers are associated with modifiable risk factors and pointed out that a key measure is to limit alcohol consumption.
It was clarified that there are some alcoholic beverages that are less harmful than others: all pose “a risk for the development of cancer because they contain ethanolwhich can modulate hormones, and its byproducts can damage DNA, which increases the risk of developing cancers,” stated the experts of the medical association based on the evidence evaluated by the National Cancer Institute of the United States.
At a global level, it is known that 4.4% of diagnosed cancers and 401,000 cancer deaths were attributed to alcohol consumption in 2019according to the WHO.
Although there is evidence of harmful effects, The lack of knowledge still persists. The American association considered that “it is worrying” that 51% of people do not know that alcohol consumption increases the risk of suffering from certain types of cancer, such as colorectal, based on a survey which was published last year.
“There is a need to put the issue on the public agenda. In recent years, knowledge about the damage it causes to health has increased greatly and according to scientific evidence there is no safe level of alcohol consumptionjust like tobacco. We cannot talk about harmful consumption or responsible consumption of alcohol because no level is safe,” he told Infobae Beatriz ChampagneRegional Coordinator, of the Healthy Latin American Coalition (CLAS).
“There is now awareness that alcohol consumption can be associated with cirrhosis. But even the population is not so aware about the risk of suffering from cancer,” he commented to Infobae the doctor Carolina Pradowho is a researcher in the Department of Chronic Diseases of the Institute of Clinical and Health Effectiveness (IECS)in Argentina.
Curbing alcohol has benefits. Research indicates that people who reduce alcohol consumption or stop drinking completely can reduce their risk of developing alcohol-related cancers by 8 percent and can reduce their risk of all types of cancer by 4 percent. percent, compared to those who maintain or increase their alcohol consumption, according to the report.
To reduce alcohol-related cancer cases, the AACR recommended:
- They must be done campaigns with public messagessuch as including specific cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages
- Regulate the number of businesses selling alcohol in a given area
- Increase taxes and prices on alcoholic beverages.
- Indicate brief counseling interventions to people who consume alcohol within primary care health centers
- Recommend more complex behavioral interventions and medical interventions based on scientific evidence
Regarding actions to discourage consumption, Ireland, the country famous in the world for its pubs, will make a pioneering advance in 2026. All alcohol products sold in its territory must indicate: “There is a direct relationship between alcohol and deadly cancers.”
That move will make Ireland the first country in the world to impose a warning linking any level of alcohol consumption to cancer.
For the past 2 decades, warning labels have been posted to inform consumers. As of 2018, there were 47 countries with standards requiring them, but they mainly focus on issues such as underage drinking, drunk driving, and drinking during pregnancy, and did not mention cancer.
¿The countries of America should add the warnings as Ireland will do? The doctor Marita Pizarroadvocacy advisor for the Healthy America Coalitionresponded to Infobae: “Evidence of the impact of health warnings for alcohol products is limited but growing. “Some countries are considering and advancing labeling policies.”
There is already significant evidence of the impact of labels when used on tobacco products or on the front labeling of ultra-processed products.
“Health warnings on alcoholic beverage labels – Pizarro stressed – should be part of a public policy that includes a package of measures that are already recognized as the most effective: increasing the price through taxes, limiting access by reducing hours and places of sale, prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship of alcohol.”
For Dr. Prado, “awareness should be increased about the association between alcohol and cancer, with health warnings and counseling in medical consultations, which could have important benefits.”
