Official announcements and publications from the FDA

Surgeon General Urges Cancer Labels on Alcohol, Third Leading Cause After Tobacco and Obesity

Jan 3, 2025, 02:39 PM

United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued an advisory calling for alcoholic beverages to carry prominent warning labels about the risk of cancer, similar to those on cigarette packages. In a report released on Friday, Murthy emphasized that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. He noted that alcohol is responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. The Surgeon General highlighted that fewer than half of Americans are aware of the cancer risks associated with alcohol intake, which increases the risk of developing cancers such as breast, colon, and liver cancer. Murthy suggested reevaluating recommended limits for alcohol consumption in light of these increased risks.