It’s a shocking truth.
A recent nationwide survey reveals that fewer than half of Americans are aware that consuming alcohol increases their risk of developing cancer. Despite public health warnings linking alcohol to cancer, the survey highlights a significant lack of awareness on this issue.
Patrick Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, which conducted the survey, explained that public health messages about alcohol-related cancer risks face strong competition from decades of sophisticated marketing and positive portrayals in the media.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of U.S. adults consume alcohol, with 17% engaging in binge drinking and 6% being heavy drinkers. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks in two hours for women, and five or more for men. The CDC advises that reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption can lower the risk of cancer.
However, the survey revealed that many Americans are not aware of the connection between alcohol use and cancer. Sixty percent of those surveyed did not realize that regular drinking increases cancer risk. Additionally, 40% were unsure of the relationship, and 20% mistakenly believed that alcohol either had no impact on cancer risk or could reduce it. The survey was conducted in September with a panel of 1,744 adults.
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