The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued a statement in The Lancet Public Health, emphasizing that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption that does not impact health. The comprehensive evaluation of alcohol's risks reveals its classification as a Group 1 carcinogen, alongside substances like asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.
Alcohol, regardless of type or quality, is identified as the culprit behind at least seven types of cancer, including common forms like bowel and breast cancer. The risk of developing cancer significantly rises with increased alcohol consumption, with even "light" and "moderate" levels contributing to half of alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region.
Contrary to previous discussions about a "safe" level of alcohol use, the WHO clarifies that current scientific evidence cannot pinpoint a threshold below which alcohol's carcinogenic effects do not manifest.
Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges from the WHO Regional Office for Europe emphasizes that health risks begin with the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The more one drinks, the greater the harm.
Globally, the WHO European Region exhibits the highest alcohol consumption and the highest proportion of drinkers. Over 200 million people in the region face the risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer.
In light of these findings, the WHO advocates for increased awareness, calling for cancer-related health information messages on alcoholic beverage labels, akin to tobacco products.