Official announcements from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol Labels Linked to Seven Types of Cancer, Third-Leading Preventable Cause

Jan 11, 2025, 03:29 PM

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued an advisory recommending that alcohol labels include warnings about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. This advisory highlights that alcohol is associated with at least seven types of cancer, including breast cancer, and identifies it as the third-leading preventable cause of cancer. Despite the advisory, there are concerns that such warnings may not significantly alter Americans' drinking habits. Recent data indicates that less than half of Americans are aware of the connection between alcohol and cancer, with a Gallup poll showing that alcohol consumption among Americans aged 18-34 has decreased from 72% to 62% over the past two decades. The advisory has sparked discussions among health experts regarding its implications for public health and the adult beverage industry.