Key Takeaways:

• Drinking more than one alcoholic beverage daily increases the risk of cancer and premature death.
• Women face a higher risk of liver cancer from moderate drinking compared to men.
• Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend a limit of one drink per day for women and two for men.
• New evidence suggests even moderate drinking may not offer health benefits that outweigh the risks.
• The U.S. Surgeon General calls for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

Recent analyses from federal health authorities reveal that consuming more than one alcoholic drink per day significantly elevates the risk of various cancers, as well as premature mortality. These findings come from a comprehensive review conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services and are set to influence the upcoming updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (NYTimes). The review indicates that both men and women who exceed one drink a day face a heightened risk of dying from alcohol-related causes. Specifically, men have a 1 in 1,000 chance of death from alcohol with seven drinks per week, which escalates to 1 in 100 at nine drinks weekly. For women, the statistics are similarly alarming.

The report, which revises previous assumptions about the benefits of moderate drinking, underscores the notable increase in risks associated with only slight increases in consumption. For instance, while moderate drinking has been tied to a reduced risk of strokes caused by blood clots, occasional heavy drinking obscures those benefits. Moreover, the dangers of alcohol are magnified for women, who exhibit a notably higher risk for liver and breast cancers compared to men at similar levels of consumption.

A critical revelation of the review is its assertion that even minimal alcohol consumption can raise cancer risk. This aligns with the conclusions from CBS News, which identify cancers such as colorectal, breast, liver, oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus as linked to alcohol use—risks that begin at any level of consumption and grow with increased intake. These findings prompted U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to seek the inclusion of cancer warnings on alcoholic beverages, akin to those on tobacco products, emphasizing the public health implications of alcohol consumption.

Further complicating the narrative is the observation that lifestyle factors can influence how alcohol affects individuals differently. With concerns that the health risks may be underreported, experts urge a reconsideration of the existing public health guidelines, suggesting that what has often been regarded as moderate drinking could actually present **moderate risks.** Dr. Timothy Naimi, one of the report's authors, noted the importance of weighing health guidelines against emerging evidence on alcohol's harm, especially as studies reveal that injuries and cancers constitute the most significant contributors to alcohol-related mortality.

In light of these grave findings, health experts are advocating for a reevaluation of personal and public drinking norms. The integration of these insights into the upcoming Dietary Guidelines will be pivotal, as they inform regulatory rulings and health education initiatives across the nation.

For more detailed information, visit the original articles on NYTimes and CBS News.