The Elephant in the Room

I took a break from posting because I wanted some time to address the elephant in the room: alcohol and its impact on our health.

I recently read and considered the 2025 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk. The Advisory is clear: alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States and is associated with an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, breast, liver and colon and rectum.

There are other perspectives worth considering. Wine expert and author Karen MacNeil has pointed to research suggesting that moderate wine consumption may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk than drinking rarely or not at all. She also makes a case for something harder to measure: the communal benefits of sharing wine and appreciating it with others.

These findings don’t necessarily point in the same direction. For me, the takeaway isn’t that one side has won the argument. It’s that we should understand the evidence and, together with our physicians, make our own informed decisions about consuming alcohol.

Risk is personal. Our genetics, environment, and circumstances are different. We also have different levels of risk we are willing to accept.

So where do I stand?

I’m going to significantly reduce the amount of alcohol I consume. Wine and other alcoholic drinks will become something I enjoy primarily on special occasions.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up my interest in wine or sharing exceptional wines and drinks with you. There are wonderful bottles and experiences worth exploring, especially when an occasion calls for something memorable.

But CITO Tastes will evolve, too.

Along with wine and other alcoholic drinks worthy of a special occasion, I’ll be exploring more non-alcoholic alternatives and, of course, more food.

Good taste isn’t going anywhere. I’m just devoting a little more time and making a little more room for other amazing tastes.