(CNN) — Can drinking alcohol cause cancer? The U.S. Surgeon General Friday said, alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer, and alcoholic beverages should carry a warning label like packs of cigarettes do. For decades, moderate drinking was said to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. but growing research has *linked drinking, sometimes even within the recommended limits, to various types of cancer. Dr. Vivek Murthy said alcohol directly contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths each year. overall, one of every six breast cancer cases is attributable to alcohol consumption. More recent studies have also linked moderate alcohol consumption to certain forms of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia. As far as the warning boxes go, only congress can act on mandating them. Categories: National News, News