In a groundbreaking advisory, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has recommended that alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, display warning labels regarding their links to cancer. The recommendation is grounded in growing evidence that even moderate alcohol consumption can significantly increase the risk of various cancers.
Dr. Murthy’s advisory highlights alcohol as the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, attributing approximately 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually to alcohol use. Shockingly, 17% of these deaths occur among individuals who consume alcohol within the guidelines set by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines—one drink per day for women and two for men. Despite this, fewer than half of Americans are aware of the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer.
“What we know with a high degree of confidence is that there is a causal link between alcohol and cancer risk,” Dr. Murthy said in the advisory. He added that the data supporting this connection has only strengthened over time. The advisory cites studies that link alcohol consumption to an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, throat, mouth, esophageal, voice box, colon, and liver cancer.
In response to these findings, Dr. Murthy is advocating for alcohol products to carry prominent warning labels, similar to those seen on tobacco products. The advisory is particularly timely, given that more than 70% of US adults consume alcohol at least once a week, and the alcohol industry saw sales totaling approximately $260 billion in 2022.
The call for warning labels has garnered support from health organizations such as the American Medical Association, which backs efforts to raise public awareness about the cancer risks associated with alcohol. However, the recommendation has also sparked debate. Some critics argue that the relationship between alcohol and health is complex and question whether warning labels are necessary. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Beer Institute, two major alcohol trade groups, have responded by emphasizing the importance of moderation and responsible drinking.
This is not the first time alcohol warning labels have been discussed. In 2020, advocacy and medical groups petitioned the US Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to update alcohol labels to include more specific health warnings. The current labels only note that alcohol “may cause health problems” and include warnings for pregnant women.
Research into the connection between alcohol and cancer has been ongoing since the 1980s. Today, alcohol is ranked just behind tobacco and obesity as a preventable cause of cancer, with the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying alcoholic beverages as human carcinogens. Globally, alcohol is responsible for an estimated 741,300 cancer cases annually.
In contrast to the US, several other countries have already taken action to label alcohol products. In South Korea, alcohol bottles include warnings about the cancer risks associated with drinking. Ireland will implement similar warnings starting in 2026.
As the debate continues, health experts and organizations stress the importance of increasing public awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption, and many are calling for more widespread regulatory efforts to address alcohol’s role in public health.
Sources By Agencies
