Bottoms Down
In his final days on the job, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is pushing for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages.
The advisory reports that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., behind tobacco and obesity, and that more Americans die from alcohol-related cancers (~20,000) than alcohol-related traffic accidents (~13,500). Murthy states moderate drinking––not exceeding federal guidelines of one drink per day for women and two for men––can raise the risk of seven types of cancer, including breast, colon, and mouth cancers. The type of alcohol does not matter.
Murthy recommends reducing federal alcohol consumption guidelines and expanding public education; he also recommends Congress pass a law requiring more prominent warning labels that include cancer risk.
Alcohol stocks spilled 1-5% following Murthy’s advisory.
Verse to consider when evaluating your own habits…“‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything builds up… So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:23, 31 (CSB) (read full passage)