U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory recommending that alcoholic beverages like beer and wine carry warning labels regarding their links to cancer. The move comes as evidence mounts that even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
In his opinion, Murthy said alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, accounting for about 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually. 17 percent of these deaths occur in people who consume alcohol according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines – one drink per day for women and two for men. Despite this, fewer than half of Americans are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.
“What we know with a high degree of confidence is that there is a causal link between alcohol and cancer risk. The data has been accumulating for some time and is getting stronger and stronger.” , said Vivek Murthy.
The advisory cites evidence that alcohol consumption may increase the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, throat, mouth, esophagus, larynx, colon and liver.
Adding a cancer warning would highlight serious health concerns linked to products that more than 70% of American adults consume at least once a week, with sales of some $260 billion globally. national in 2022.
The request for warning labels has received support from some health organizations, including the American Medical Association. However, others have expressed skepticism about the need for labels, citing the complexity of the relationship between alcohol and health.
Debate over warnings on alcohol bottles
The debate over alcohol warning labels is not new. In 2020, consumer advocacy and medical groups called on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to update the alcohol warning label. Currently, labels state that alcohol “may cause health problems” and warn against its consumption by pregnant women.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Beer Institute responded to the Surgeon General’s advisory by emphasizing the importance of moderation and responsible drinking.
Studies have linked cancer to alcohol since the 1980s, and it ranks behind tobacco and obesity as a preventable cause of the disease. Globally, alcohol is responsible for approximately 741,300 cases of cancer per year. Yet in most countries, including the United States, regulatory focus on alcohol-related health risks remains limited.
The World Health Organization has classified alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans. Of the 47 member countries of the World Health Organization that have warned against alcohol, only South Korea cites cancer. Ireland will require a cancer warning from 2026.
