United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, increasing risk for at least seven types of cancer. 

Mary Charlton, professor of epidemiology and director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, and Paul Gilbert, associate professor of community and behavioral health, spoke to several media outlets about the new advisory.

“The safest thing for all sorts of health outcomes, not just cancer, is no alcohol consumption,” said Paul Gilbert, an associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. “But, of course, not many people go that route, because alcohol is such an important, central part of our social and cultural customs.” (NBC News)

“Studies have shown that less than half of Americans had any idea that alcohol was associated with cancer,” said Dr. Mary Charlton, professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa and director of the Iowa Cancer Registry. “For the most part, people were not informed about alcohol being a carcinogen and being able to cause cancer.” (KGAN)

Media Coverage

7 major questions about alcohol and cancer: What doctors think you should know (NBC News)

Iowa Cancer Registry responds to Surgeon General’s warning about alcohol (KCRG)

Confronting Cancer in Iowa: How Alcohol Increases Cancer Risk (KWWL)

Surgeon general issues advisory on link between alcohol and cancer (WXYZ)

UI researchers back call for updated warning labels on alcohol (Radio Iowa)

Health experts raise alarms about alcohol’s connection to cancer (WQAD)