Psychology Today | 21.12.2025 03:34
On January 3, 2025, the Surgeon General’s report delivered a sobering reality: alcohol is linked to an estimated 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the U.S. Alcohol use is now the third leading preventable cause of cancer, after tobacco and obesity. There are 13,500 alcohol-related traffic fatalities each year (yes, alcohol kills more people with cancer than cars). Globally, the World Health Organization estimates 2.6 million alcohol-related deaths each year, including 700,000 from alcohol-related violence. Alcohol increases the chances of unprotected sex, which is why alcohol is also connected to higher rates of STDs. This troubling data underscores that no amount can be considered truly safe.
