League Against Cancer revises health message

The League Against Cancer is proposing to change the common public health message about alcohol, aiming to remove the word "excessive" from the phrase "Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous for health." The organization believes the term may oversimplify the connection between alcohol and cancer risk.

Scientific evidence shows nuanced risk

The word "excessive" suggests a clear line between safe and unsafe drinking, but research indicates that alcohol increases the risk of several cancers, including breast cancer, even at low levels of consumption. This means the risk is not limited to heavy or dependent drinking.

National Cancer Institute clarifies risk

The National Cancer Institute confirms that alcohol is a known risk factor for several cancers, with risk increasing as consumption rises. However, it also notes that a single glass of alcohol does not automatically cause cancer, and moderate drinking does not guarantee no risk.

Proposed change focuses on risk reduction

The League Against Cancer’s proposed change aims to highlight that reducing alcohol consumption lowers cancer risk, rather than implying that only heavy drinking is dangerous. Public health guidelines emphasize reducing risk rather than identifying a completely safe threshold for alcohol use.