The Other Surgeon General Recommendation 🩺
While the headline news from the Surgeon General is about alcohol and cancer, perhaps we're missing the point––we need to rethink the way we live.
You may have read the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s recent recommendation of adding warning labels about alcohol and cancer. Alcohol is associated with seven different kinds of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, colon and rectum, and breast.
Though it has made headline news, including my appearance on CNN (see below) and Fox News, this is far from new information. The American Cancer Society and Center for Disease Control (CDC) have both long held this perspective on the relationship between alcohol and cancer. The real questions we must ask are: (1) How much alcohol constitutes an acceptable risk? And (2) how do we protect the most vulnerable among us—those with a family history of cancer or lifestyle factors that, when combined with alcohol, significantly amplify those risks?
Yet, I can’t help but think in the debate that has ensued, and sensational headlines, we’re missing Dr. Murthy’s most important prescription to date: We have to change the way we live.
For many of us, alcohol is part of necessary change but, for even more people, the problem is about how we live our lives and a narrative that perpetuates the “Triad of Success”––fame, wealth, and power. Certainly, there are other factors, too, such as socio-economic determinants of health, which I don’t want to discount. But values are at the core of decision making at national, local, and familial levels that sometimes privilege the Triad of Success over the Triad of Fulfillment––relationships, service, and purpose.
What we need is community, argues Dr. Murthy, sharing the story of his father leaving his poor village in India and finding an even greater struggle for connection here in the U.S. Community depends on us fostering relationships, service, and meaning. But so does our health. This is not just some abstract idea. It directly affects our health outcomes.
As Dr. Murthy wrote:
These core pillars of community—relationships, service, and purpose—are powerful drivers of fulfillment. They can also significantly influence health outcomes, including premature mortality, heart disease, depression, and anxiety.
While it makes sense to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption if you’re worried about the risk of cancer, it’s important not to stay home and sip soda water. We can’t forget the previous report by the Surgeon General on loneliness as an epidemic. You should still go out, be social, and drink delicious drinks. They just don’t need to have alcohol.
We proved as much during Mindful Drinking Fest this past weekend. Over 1,000 people gathered to sip, celebrate and connect. There were seminars, wellness classes, parties, and delicious drinks to be tried throughout the weekend. But, most importantly, there was community.
We’re deeply grateful for Dr. Murthy's invaluable advice and guidance during his tenure. His latest messages resonate profoundly and can be beautifully summarized in a single phrase: While alcohol is optional, connection is not.
What’s happening and what’s next….
Grateful to Allison Aubry for including me in this NPR piece, Looking to have fun without alcohol? This guy has ideas that may help. 🗞️
Great video from Ellen Meny on DC News Now, where she tries some of the best finds at Mindful Drinking Fest: Living Local DMV tries products from the Mindful Drinking Fest. 🎥
Adrianne Deluca covered Mindful Drinking Fest for BevNet, Top of ‘Mind’: Notes From D.C.’s Mindful Drinking Fest. ✍🏻
Dry Atlas continues to be one of the best sources for news and views on non-alc. I’ll be attending their upcoming live webinar on Wine: No Longer the Default Pairing Option, Thursday, January 23rd. 🍷
Thank you to Oar Health for your important work and sponsorship of Positive Damage! Learn more about how Oar Health can help you drink less or quit here.
Exactly Derek! I read Dr Murthy's whole article and took a screenshot of his 3 elements that fuel our well-being-his Triad--relationships, service and purpose. I thought that was great! As you say-we have to examine and rethink the way we live. And as Dr Murthy says, 'each of these things can significantly impact our physical and mental health'. Everyone can benefit from that advice!