Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
Silvio Garattini returns to the topic of cancer risk linked to alcohol consumption. The founder and president of the Mario Negri Institute, in an article published in Il Fatto Quotidiano, criticized the widespread belief that moderate alcohol consumption is harmless. Alcohol's carcinogenicity is recognized by the scientific community, and even moderate consumption is not without risks.
The 97-year-old scientist emphasizes that reducing the quantities consumed does not equate to completely eliminating the risk.
Alcoholic beverages also differ in their alcohol content: beer generally contains 4-5% alcohol, wine around 12-15%, while spirits can reach around 40%. Furthermore, for the researcher, the topic of alcohol is rooted in tradition, culture, and conviviality. During a dinner with friends, it's considered normal to have a drink too many and indulge, while ignoring the potential health effects.
Garattini therefore launches an appeal: informing citizens about the risks associated with alcohol consumption is essential to encourage them to make more informed choices.
The researcher, regarding time, draws attention to the difference between communicating the risks of alcohol and tobacco. Cigarette packaging, in fact, features explicit warnings. In contrast, bottles of alcohol do not display clear and visible information about the health risks.
In this regard, the doctor cites New Zealand, where wine bottles carry warnings about potential health risks. More effective warnings, according to Garattini, could help raise awareness and combat, once and for all, the idea that moderate alcohol consumption is necessarily harmless.
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