The danger of alcohol is greater than we thought - opinion

Surgeons general of the United States don’t usually make headlines. However, some have, like Dr. Luther Terry, who told the world in 1964 that it has been absolutely proven that cigarettes are harmful to your health and will kill you.

Others like Dr. C. Everett Koop became prominent in the early 80’s for continuing the battle against tobacco use and combating AIDS, a new disease at the time.

Six months ago, in his final days serving as surgeon general for the Biden administration, Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory regarding the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.

The advisory highlights that alcohol is a significant, yet often overlooked risk factor for several types of cancer. The advisory emphasizes the established link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven cancers: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, mouth, throat, and larynx.

This made big news for a day or two, but then seemed to fall by the wayside. Let’s take a look at the studies and  see if there’s room to consume and enjoy small amounts of alcohol without doing damage.

Over two years ago, I wrote an article on the dangers of alcohol consumption (“Drink safely this Purim to avoid a trip to the ER,” March 4, 2023, jpost.com). In that article, I talked about a personal experience of resuscitating a young lady who had alcohol overdosed and ceased breathing after aspirating vomit.

“In the short term, drowsiness, a sense of euphoria, mood changes, impulsive behavior, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, head pain, changes perception, loss of coordination, trouble focusing and even loss of consciousness or gaps in memory are among the symptoms one can experience,” I wrote.

As most people know, the damage that alcohol does to the liver can end in cirrhosis (liver disease), or even needing a liver transplant or getting liver cancer.

As I have mentioned many times, the evolution of health science, particularly in the field of nutrition and lifestyle, moves quickly. What was “true” yesterday may not be true today. A perfect example is the perpetuated myth that drinking alcohol is heart healthy.

People point out the “French Paradox” – French people have a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease (compared with other Western societies) despite consuming a diet high in saturated fats, which are typically associated with an increased risk of heart disease. They told us it’s the red wine that did the trick.

Turns out that wasn’t true – it was the above-average consumption of vegetables and fruits in the diet. It seems that there is absolutely no benefit to alcohol consumption. Moderation? No – it seems that any amount can damage your health in one way or another. Obviously, the more one drinks, the greater the risk.

Not only did former surgeon general Murthy issue his warning half a year ago, but the EU has now launched a new coalition of health organizations and experts to advocate for the reduction of alcohol-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths there. The World Health Organization European Region has the heaviest alcohol consumption of all regions in the world. This results in significant reduction in life expectancy, especially among men.

Approximately 800,000 lives are lost each year to alcohol. It is also a leading risk factor for disability, a major cause of more than 200 chronic diseases, and a factor in many injuries and mental health disorders.

The dangers of alcohol consumption are wide-ranging and now well documented. But this brings us back to that same question that I find continues to haunt people who advocate for better health habits: Where are the meaningful warnings like we have on cigarette packages?

I have asked the same question about ultra-processed food and processed meats in particular. According to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study, every hot dog you eat takes 36 minutes off of your life and each can of cola takes off 12 minutes. No warning labels?

An unfortunate fact of life is that governments and public health authorities are as concerned about corporate profits and as they are about your well-being. It is imperative that we become knowledgeable and educated so we can make the proper decisions about what enters our mouths and what doesn’t.

So what is the safe dose? How much can I have and enjoy? If you have any chronic disease, you should stay away from drinking alcohol. However, it seems that having a few glasses of wine or beer in a week for an otherwise healthy person won’t cause harm. For those of us who are observant Jews and want wine for kiddush Friday night and Shabbat morning, those two glasses are just fine.

It’s the “adding on” where you can get into trouble. I personally mix my wine with some grape juice for kiddush. There is so much to eat and drink and enjoy – why go for foods and drinks that shorten your life? Making the proper food choices will “add hours to your days, days to your years and years to your lives.”