Oregon health officials echo Surgeon General’s warning about alcohol cancer risk [Video]

PORTLAND, Oregon — As many Americans embrace a post-holiday break from alcohol, there’s a new advisory to consider all year long. On Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned of the link between alcohol and cancer; specifically, that alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer behind tobacco and obesity.

“The research has been building for years now,” Vivek told NBC News. “We’ve had more and more evidence that keeps accumulating year by year that’s giving us a strong connection, a causal link between alcohol and cancer.”

Murthy said there are well established links between alcohol and seven types of cancer including mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, breast, liver and colorectal disease. 

Current advisories on alcohol labels warn against drinking while pregnant, driving or operating machinery. Murthy wants warnings to …