The U.S. surgeon general has released a new advisory warning of alcohol-related cancer risk.

Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the guidance on Friday following research that has linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer.

In particular, the advisory notes that alcohol can increase the risk of throat, liver, esophageal, mouth, larynx (voice box), colon and rectal cancers.

DRINKING ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO CANCER, EXPERTS SAY

Alcohol consumption has been named as the "third leading preventable cause of cancer" in the country, the advisory noted, with tobacco and obesity taking the top two spots.

"Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States — greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. — yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk," said Murthy in the advisory. 

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"This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm."

The advisory breaks down four different ways in which cancer can increase cancer risk.

In one mechanism, the alcohol breaks down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and increases cancer risk.

Alcohol also induces "oxidative stress," the advisory warns, which damages protein, DNA and cells, and also causes inflammation.

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In a third mechanism, alcohol changes hormone levels, namely estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. More than 16% of all breast cancer cases have been linked to alcohol, the advisory states.

Finally, cancer creates conditions in which alcohol is more easily absorbed into the body.

Individual risk for alcohol-related cancers will also depend on "a complex interaction of biological, environmental, social and economic factors," the same source stated.

In the new advisory, Murthy calls for a warning label to be placed on alcoholic beverages stating that they may increase cancer risk.

The advisory also calls for a "reassessment of the guideline limits" for alcohol consumption and encourages people to be cognizant of the risk when deciding how much to consume.

The surgeon general also calls for doctors, health professionals and community groups to emphasize the link between alcohol and cancer to help raise awareness of the risk.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, applauded Murthy's advisory.

"Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you," he told Fox News Digital. "Increasing evidence shows that isn't true."

Though wine and other alcoholic beverages may relieve stress and dilate arteries in the short term, the doctor warned that alcohol is a "proven toxin" with direct links to liver, heart and brain disease. 

"Even though traditional advice has been up to one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men, in fact, no amount of alcohol is healthy," Siegel said.

Multiple studies have shown that 25% of people increased their alcohol use during the pandemic, according to Siegel.

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"This was in part because of stress and also because of social isolation — and the numbers have persisted since the pandemic ended," he said.

"The timing of this advisory is right on the mark."

Feel like you "can’t handle your alcohol" — or do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail?

These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic.

This gene mutation hampers the body’s ability to produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body, health experts said.

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An at-home DNA test could detect whether you have the mutation causing this alcohol adversity.

The test looks for mutations in the ADH and ALDH genes, which affect metabolism, according to several laboratory company websites that produce the testing kits.

The testing kit, which costs approximately $150, involves swabbing the cheek and mailing the sample back to a laboratory company to see if the gene mutations are present.

Results typically come in less than two weeks, according to several of the testing companies’ websites.

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"A simple mouth swab is all we need to find out whether you have inherited DNA changes that affect your ability to metabolize alcohol and may increase your risk of serious health complications," Genex Diagnostics, a Seattle-based company that specializes in DNA testing, stated on its website.

Dr. Frances Lee — a hepatologist (liver doctor) who specializes in alcohol-related liver disease at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York City — is not affiliated with any of the lab companies, but commented to Fox News Digital about these testing kits.

"The genes in question are ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2," Lee told Fox News Digital.

The ADH1B and ADH1C genes help break down ethanol (alcohol) into the chemical acetaldehyde, he said. The ALDH2 gene then helps to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid.

"This is an important step in the metabolism of ethanol, because acetaldehyde is toxic and inflammatory to cells," Lee said. 

"Variations in the ALDH2 gene can cause acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to work at a slower rate, leading to a buildup of acetaldehyde levels in the body."

Acetaldehyde is also linked to some of the unpleasant symptoms of alcohol intoxication, such as headaches, flushing, hives and nausea, according to Lee.

This type of genetic test may provide an individual with at least a partial explanation for their alcohol intolerance, Lee told Fox News Digital. 

All genetic tests should be approached with caution, as they can sometimes lead to more questions than answers, according to Lee.

Other health experts told Fox News Digital that there are pros and cons to this type of genetic testing.

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"I can envision a case where this test may encourage one to drink less if a previously unknown heterozygosity in ALDH2 is revealed," Lee of Mount Sinai told Fox News Digital. "If that occurs, I would consider this test to have a beneficial outcome." 

There is the possibility, however, that the test may not reveal any genetic variation, which could be interpreted as a license to drink even more. 

"This would be an example of a harmful outcome," Lee said.

While the DNA test can confirm that someone has the defective gene that makes them more susceptible to the effects of alcohol at lower doses, "it should not be used to encourage others that they can drink more [alcohol] without repercussions," Dr. Fred Davis, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

For those who want to enjoy an occasional cocktail, Makenzi Mollitor, a registered dietitian and sports dietitian at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, has some advice. 

"If you’re someone who feels like their body is screaming at them even after one drink, then abstaining from alcohol may be best for you," she said to Fox News Digital. "However, alcohol-DNA mutation or not, I urge anyone wanting to consume alcohol to consider both the quality and quantity of their drinks."

Mollitor recommends choosing a quality alcohol, such as orange wine or other naturally fermented, low-sugar wines high in beneficial polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties.

Spirits that have a higher alcohol concentration, such as vodka, whiskey and rum, could exacerbate symptoms, the dietitian cautioned.

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"No matter what it is you choose to consume, try capping your alcohol intake to the recommended one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men," Mollitor advised.

Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, Lee told Fox News Digital. 

Efforts to reduce risk and prevent alcohol-related morbidity and mortality are "tantamount to improving population and individual health," according to the liver transplant specialist.

"For people who are concerned about developing liver disease as a consequence of drinking alcohol, talking to a liver specialist should be the first step," Lee advised. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to several laboratory companies that sell the DNA test kits for further comment but has not heard back.