US Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol Labels
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has urged for cancer risk warnings on alcoholic beverages, akin to the labels found on cigarette packaging, citing new research that links alcohol consumption to seven types of cancer.
Murthy's advisory highlights that "the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk," which contributes to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the United States. Updating the current warning labels, which have remained unchanged since 1988, would require congressional action.
The Surgeon General has also advocated for revisiting recommended alcohol consumption limits and enhancing public education about the associated cancer risks.
As the federal government's leading public health spokesperson, Murthy emphasized that alcohol ranks as the third most common preventable cause of cancer, following tobacco use and obesity.
"The direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is well-established for at least seven types of cancer," Murthy stated. This applies to all forms of alcohol, including beer, wine, and spirits. The cancers linked to alcohol consumption include those of the breast (in women), throat, liver, esophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon.
The report also calls for healthcare providers to prioritize alcohol screening and treatment referrals and recommends expanding awareness campaigns.
Current warning labels on alcoholic beverages advise pregnant women against drinking due to risks of birth defects and caution against impaired driving or machinery operation.
Following the announcement, shares of US-listed alcoholic beverage companies, including Diageo, the world's largest spirits producer, dropped by up to 4%.
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