Surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcohol labels

Jan 3

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Harry Fogle (Video Editor)

Your favorite glass of wine may soon come with a health warning. The U.S. surgeon general is urging Congress to update alcohol labels with a cancer risk warning.

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U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a stark advisory Friday, Jan. 3, warning that alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer. These include cancers of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, and even breast cancer, which many women may not associate with alcohol use.

The advisory highlights that consuming just two drinks per day can lead to four additional cases of breast cancer per 100 women.

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Murthy also noted that alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the U.S.

Surgeon general pushes for label changes

Currently, beer, wine and liquor labels include warnings about drinking during pregnancy and while driving. Murthy believes that adding cancer warnings could increase public awareness and change behavior.

The advisory states, “Health warning labels are well-established and effective approaches to increasing awareness of health hazards and fostering behavior change.”

The advisory pointed to 47 countries that already require health and safety warnings on alcohol labels. South Korea stands out for requiring cancer-specific warnings on its alcohol products.

In a post on X, Murthy urged Congress to authorize updates to surgeon general warning labels to include cancer risks.

He emphasized that when it comes to reducing cancer risk, “less is best.”

Tags: Alcohol, Health, Men’s Health, U.S. Congress, Women’s Health

[KENNEDY FELTON]

Your favorite glass of wine might soon pair well with a side of caution – as America’s top doctor pushes for cancer warning labels on alcohol.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy urged a stark warning Friday, stating alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer. He also noted that alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the U.S.

Dr. Michael Caldwell, Professor of Public Health Practice at the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College, said, “They think, oh, maybe liver cancer. Well, yes, but all the digestive cancers in your mouth, your esophagus, colon cancer, breast cancer, many women really don’t realize that there’s a strong link between any alcohol use and their risk of breast cancer.”

For women, just two drinks a day can increase the risk of developing breast cancer by about four cases per 100 women, the advisory states.

Dr. Caldwell emphasized that medical professionals are discovering every day that there really is no safe level of alcohol. Surgeon General Murthy believes warning labels could help change behavior. Currently, beer, wine, and liquor already have labels warning against drinking during pregnancy and while driving.

Friday’s advisory states, “Health warning labels are well-established and effective approaches to increasing awareness of health hazards and fostering behavior change.”

It also notes that 47 countries require health and safety warning labels on alcohol. South Korea even requires cancer-specific warnings.

So what happens next? On Friday, Murthy posted on “X” urging Congress to authorize an update to the Surgeon General’s warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to include a cancer risk warning.

Being more aware of the risks is key. Murthy also emphasized that when it comes to reducing cancer risk, less alcohol is best.