A lot of people in our community—and elsewhere—joke that a party is not complete without alcohol. Therefore, it is not surprising that alcohol is the most used substance in America. A 2010 study by Johns Hopkins revealed that 20.4% of Black children and young adults aged 12 to 20 consumed alcohol within a 30-day period. Consequently, it has recently become one of the three leading causes of death in our communities.
Historically, alcohol consumption in our community has remained lower compared to whites. This is often linked to social disapproval and religious beliefs. However, this low consumption also means that our community is more likely to be intoxicated by lower volumes of alcohol.
Besides lifting the party spirit, alcoholism has become an instrument for coping with stress, anxiety, and depression in our community often resulting from one form of racial discrimination or another. But, in addition to the already known side effects of alcoholism, top physicians in the United States are warning about its link to cancer.
The link between alcohol and cancer
Dr. Vivek Murphy, US Surgeon General, issued an advisory earlier this month warning of the newly discovered danger of alcohol. The surgeon even proposed adding cigarette-style warning labels on alcoholic beverages to alert consumers about the potential cancer risks associated with alcohol.
Alcohol consumption is linked to nearly 100,000 cases of cancer and around 20,000 deaths annually in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimates that around 75,000 cancer cases annually are linked to alcohol. Four decades of research have shown the causal relationship between alcohol and at least 7 different types of cancers, including:
- Mouth (oral cavity)
- Throat (pharynx)
- Voice Box (larynx)
- Esophagus
- Breast (in women)
- Liver
- Colon and rectum
Researchers stated that the risk of breast, throat, and mouth cancers may begin with the consumption of just one or a few glasses of alcohol daily. Interestingly, the risk remained the same regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage consumed, whether beer, wine, or spirits.
How does alcohol cause cancer?
Dr. Murthy highlighted four ways alcohol causes cancer. Alcohol has the ability to cause changes in certain chemicals in the body which eventually alter the DNA and lead to the production of defective cells. Below are the different mechanisms through which alcohol can cause cancer.
- Hormones. Cancer occurs when the body cells start to divide out of control. Research has shown that high levels of certain hormones (including insulin and estrogen) can cause body cells to divide more rapidly. Interestingly, alcohol can lead to a spike in these hormones thereby increasing cancer risks.
- DNA. When consumed, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde which binds to the DNA and damages them. The damaged DNA can grow out of control and create cancerous tumors.
- Molecular Reaction. Alcohol generates an unstable molecule containing oxygen (called reactive oxygen species) that readily reacts with other molecules in a cell. When these molecules react with the DNA, they damage this genetic material through a process called oxidation.
- Absorption. Cancer-causing chemicals like those found in cigarette smoke dissolve in alcohol and become more easily absorbed into the body. This particularly increases the risk of throat and mouth cancers.
Ensuring a healthier alcohol-free community
The current US Dietary Guidelines recommends two alcoholic drinks per day for men and one alcoholic drink for women—and the reason for the recommendation, which has been in existence for a long time, was because of the perceived benefits of moderate alcohol intake. For clarity, alcoholic beverages contain 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Dr. Murthy made several recommendations including changing the current recommended daily alcohol limits. A new Dietary Guidelines is expected in 2026 which will likely urge Americans to limit their alcohol intake to two bottles of beer or glasses of wine per week—instead of having it as a daily limit.
However, by 2026, Trump will be in Presidential power, and Robert F Kennedy Jr, a former alcoholic, will be at the helm of Health and Human Services—and we can’t rely on them to make the right decision. There remains uncertainty about what Trump’s next administration would look like and how his policies will impact the health of our community. In the meantime, here are a few ways you can help our community regulate their alcohol consumption.
1. Advocacy: we are calling on everyone in the Black community with an influential voice (including priests, pastors, and celebrities) to join in sensitizing our entire community to understand the new findings about alcohol and the need for them to lower their intake.
2. Lifestyle change: being cautious about your alcohol intake can rub on the people around you, especially your children because they unconsciously try to model their lives after their parents.
3. Limit alcohol availability at home: the temptation to gulp a glass will be limited if it is not readily accessible.
4. Track your alcohol intake: leverage technology like MyDrinkaware App to track your alcohol consumption and set goals to keep your intake within safe limits.
5. Seek help: drastically cutting down your alcohol intake may not be an easy feat. When you try and fail, don’t be ashamed to seek help from family, friends, support groups, or a trained professional.
Be proactive with your health by scheduling annual cancer screening because treatment is more effective and survival rate higher when tumors are detected early. Leverage workplace employee assistance program (EAP) where available to assist with your alcohol use. Remember, staying healthy and ensuring the health of our community is a marathon, not a sprint.
For more reading
https://www.alcoholhelp.com/resources/african-americans-alcohol