Surgeon General report warns of alcohol’s link to cancer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - According to a new Surgeon General report, about 100,000 cases of cancer per year in the country are associated with alcohol use.

Now, health experts are calling for more warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol is a carcinogen and can increase your risk for cancer because it is a direct toxin to liver cells. A professor of medicine with the University of Virginia, Neeral Shah, says this is concerning and should be a warning sign.

“We probably need to look at updating the warning labels on alcohol. Number two, I think we need to reassess what the limits are for men and women in taking alcohol on a daily basis,” said Neeral Shah.

Shah also says reducing people’s risk starts with education and letting people know about the association between cancer and alcohol.

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