Alcohol Linked to Seven Types of Cancer, Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels

Jan 3, 2025, 08:40 PM

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Friday, calling for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages due to the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. According to the advisory, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, contributing to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. Despite this, existing labels on alcoholic beverages omit cancer risks, focusing instead on warnings about drunk driving and pregnancy. Dr. Murthy proposes that alcoholic drinks should carry prominent warning labels to inform consumers about the seven types of cancer associated with alcohol use, including breast, colon, and liver cancers. The advisory suggests that Congress would need to approve updates to existing warning labels to include cancer risks, as most individuals remain unaware of these dangers.