Heart Surgeon Jeremy London Warns 37.8% Binge-Drinking Rate Is Poisoning Every Cell
Updated
Updated · en.sedaily.com · Aug 16
Heart Surgeon Jeremy London Warns 37.8% Binge-Drinking Rate Is Poisoning Every Cell
1 articles · Updated · en.sedaily.com · Aug 16
Summary
South Korea’s monthly binge-drinking rate reached 37.8% in 2024, as U.S. heart surgeon Jeremy London warned alcohol is “toxic to every cell” and drives chronic damage that ends on operating tables.
London, a cardiothoracic surgeon in Savannah, said even occasional drinking is harmful, linking long-term alcohol use to high blood pressure, cardiovascular strain and progressive heart disease.
The health burden is broad: high-risk drinking among adults hit 13.6%, 59.0% of monthly drinkers reported binge drinking, and 35.6% of them drank heavily at least twice a week.
WHO classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, while Korean researchers said cardiovascular risk depends not just on volume consumed but also on genetics, underlying conditions and drinking patterns.
OECD data ranked South Korea fifth-highest for monthly binge drinking among 27 countries, with rates rising among men in their 60s and 70s and women aged 30 and older.