The U.S. Surgeon General has called for alcohol products to carry prominent warning labels highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and cancer.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stated in a press release on Friday that alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco use and obesity.
Despite this, many Americans remain unaware of the connection.
Alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, mouth, and throat cancers, with risks beginning to rise at even low levels of consumption, such as one drink per day.
“Given the strong evidence linking alcohol consumption to cancer risk, and the Surgeon General’s duty to inform the public with the best scientific information, I recommend updating the warning labels on alcohol beverages to include cancer risk,” Murthy said in his advisory.
The surgeon general noted that alcohol-related cancers result in approximately 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths annually, with the risk increasing alongside consumption.
Currently, alcohol warning labels address risks like drinking during pregnancy or operating machinery, but they haven’t been updated since 1988.
Any changes to these labels would require congressional approval.
