U.S. Surgeon General Urges Cancer Warnings on Alcohol Labels, Cites 100,000 Annual Cases

Jan 12, 2025, 06:07 AM

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued an advisory highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer, calling for the inclusion of cancer warnings on alcoholic beverage labels. The advisory notes that alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., contributing to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. It specifically mentions the increased risk for seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, and mouth cancers. The advisory comes in the context of ongoing discussions about alcohol consumption, with initiatives like Dry January encouraging people to abstain from alcohol for health benefits such as improved sleep, concentration, and mood.