The Alaska State Legislature today passed Rep. Andrew Gray’s “Alcoholic Beverages and Cancer Act,” the first bill of its kind requiring all alcohol retailers in the state to post cancer warning signs at points that state: “Alcohol consumption can cause cancer, including breast and colon cancer.” This Act was passed as part of House Bill 189, sponsored by Representative Jesse Sumner (R-Wasilla).
American Cancer Society researchers have found that alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of cancer. For some cancers, even light or moderate drinking significantly increases the risk. For example, researchers estimate that consuming one standard drink per day is associated with a 4% increased risk of breast cancer and drinking 2 to 4 drinks per day with a 23% increased risk.
“I want Alaskans to make informed decisions about their health, and I hope that through the language of House Bill 189 the state can fully publicize the well-proven link between alcohol and cancer,” said Rep. Andrew Gray (D-Anchorage). “As a medical provider, I would want all Alaskans to be aware of all the health harms associated with alcohol, especially its potential to cause common, life-threatening cancers.”
Former president of the Alaska Academy of Family Physicians, Shawn Vainio, MD, explained: “Very few of my patients know that alcohol is carcinogenic. Educating Alaskans about this will help prevent cancer (including common ones like breast and colon cancer) and will also help lower healthcare costs for all of us.”
“This is an important step for Alaska consumers, who have the right to know basic information about all the food and beverages they buy, let alone a product that is an addictive carcinogen and is found to be a leading cause of harm.” and social problems. and health care costs in Alaska,” said Tim Naimi, MD, director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria.
“The Alcohol and Cancer Act represents an important milestone,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America. “Cancers caused by alcohol kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. At the same time, survey after survey shows that less than half of adults are aware that alcohol increases cancer risk. A survey showed that 10% of adults believe that drinking wine reduces the risk of cancer. It is not like this. Drinking any type of alcohol, even in small quantities, increases the risk of cancer. “Legislations like Rep. Gray’s will allow for more informed decisions about alcohol consumption and ultimately save lives.”
Representative Andrew Gray represents House District 20 (Anchorage U-MED district) in the Alaska State House of Representatives. Outside of the legislature, he is a physician assistant and works in urgent care. Previously, he was a personal assistant for the Alaska Army National Guard and the Alaska Department of Veterans Affairs.
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