Surgeon General Murthy Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcoholic Beverages

Jan 3, 2025, 01:52 PM

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued an advisory on Friday calling for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages, similar to those on cigarette packs, citing a causal link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, contributing to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. The advisory highlights that even consuming one or fewer drinks per day can increase the risk of certain cancers, including tumors in the breast and other parts of the body. Alcohol is linked to seven types of cancer. The Surgeon General emphasized the need for updated guidelines and prominent warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers of the health risks associated with alcohol.