Science, it seems, tarnishes national practices, pastimes, diets, and often seems unmindful of histories. The latest scientific target is alcohol: its ingestion causes cancer. For a large swath of humanity alcohol, or ethanol plays central roles in religious devotion and tribal ceremonial libations — parts of tradition and societal well-being.

As a scientist I know where my colleagues are coming from: you follow your evidence to where it leads. But as a man, I feel a little let down because a great deal of my past professional and social engagement had alcohol at its center. For instance, over the years, wines at dinner were an essential part of my entertaining referring doctors. In general, professional practice in America — be it medical, legal, or some other profession — requires we expose our persons for a thorough examination by those from whom we seek business referrals.

When a patient sees his doctor and is referred to a surgeon, or some other specialist is recommended, chances are the physicians shared a bottle of wine along the way. That practice has now changed somewhat as more doctors have become HMOs’ employees. There’s of course nothing wrong with this or other professional entertainment. I am merely pointing out that ethanol plays a major role in its actuation. 

But back to the story of ethanol that researchers say causes cancer. Wine has been used to celebrate different holy occasions by many religions; in the Catholic mass and orthodox Christianity, wine is the substitute of Christ’s blood. In Judaism, wine produced under specific conditions, holds significant ritual importance, including practices such as Shabbat, holidays and life cycle events. Its consumption is of course forbidden in Islam, where it is considered profligate and haram. Hinduism forbids alcohol consumption. It is, in other words, used and forbidden by different religions and different peoples often representing disparate places on planet Earth. 

In regions where some people live long happy lives, wine and olive oil — part of the Mediterranean diet — tend to play an important part. In medical school in Spain, no meal was complete without a carafe of red wine. For decades drinking red wine was sanctioned by cardiologists as a cardiac tonic. Without clinical evidence it was claimed it contained antioxidants. 

As I write this about alcohol’s seemingly benign and pleasurable role among religions, tribes and people around the world, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention some dire issues that affect people involved in familial alcohol addiction.  Alcohol consumption has been known to cause significant systemic conditions including cirrhosis of the liver and significant mental health-care issues that include the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which results from the lack of Vitamin B or Thiamine. 

Stanford’s Randall Stafford says: “I’ve added alcohol to the list of substances I recommend my patients either reduce or eliminate from their diets.” He argues that alcohol has no protective value to the consumer. Another scientist, Dr. Keith Humphreys says that: any amount of alcohol increases your risk of certain cancers along the digestive tract: mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. 

Biochemically, alcohol metabolizes into acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and other cellular components of cells it comes into contact with. Initial contact points — mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach are most vulnerable and show strongest links to alcohol-related cancers. Additionally, the liver and brain, as well as organs throughout the body are affected by acetaldehyde. Newer studies point to alcohol’s interference with the immune system, accelerating molecular signs of aging. According to Humphreys, “even low-level drinking can worsen anxiety and depression, particularly in those who use alcohol to cope emotionally.” 

Alcohol’s deleterious effect is also dose related. An equal amount of alcohol can affect different people differently. Indeed smaller amounts of booze affect women more than men. Many people of East Asian descent have a genetic deficiency that interferes with metabolization of acetaldehyde. It causes rapid heart rate and facial flushing from as little as one drink. Because of acetaldehyde accumulation in their bodies, they are at an increased risk of alcohol related disease, including cancer, even at lower levels of alcohol consumption. 

The foregoing illustrates the confusion that exists regarding alcohol consumption. Obviously the best solution is to abstain. But as history proves, alcohol, religion, cultural norms are closely linked. Science does not affect our joy but merely advises caution — limit alcohol intake to as little as possible as we watch the evolution of scientific research into the cancer causing effect of my favorite “red.”    

Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students ‘STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies and is featured on the podcast, “Never Again.”