Alcohol Stocks Drop—Corona Owner Plummets $450 Million In Value—After Surgeon General Says Alcohol Should Have Cancer Warning
ForbesDEC 28 2024
Alcohol Stocks Fall After US Surgeon General Cancer Risk Warning
Above: Duty-free liquor display at the Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. Image copyright: Jeffrey Greenberg/Contributor/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
While no one needs to completely cut ties with alcohol, Americans should drink much less to lower cancer risks. Alcohol is linked to a statistically significant rise in both cancer rates and deaths, though reducing intake to one per day for women and two for men can help mitigate these risks. Moderation, understanding serving sizes, and choosing lower-calorie options if you must drink can help without total abstinence.
Narrative B
Alcohol isn't the healthiest choice, but fear-mongering about its cancer risks can mislead the public. The increase in absolute risk from moderate drinking is minimal, often inflating panic rather than providing a balanced perspective. Understanding the difference between relative and absolute risk shows that even with consumption, the likelihood of developing cancer remains low.