Cancer Warnings on Alcoholic Beverages

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, has called for new warning labels on alcoholic beverages to highlight their link to cancer, citing research that associates alcohol consumption with seven types of cancer.

In a statement, Murthy stressed that alcohol contributes to around 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the United States. Current labels, last updated in 1988, lack information on these risks, prompting the Surgeon General to advocate for changes requiring congressional approval.

Murthy outlined that alcohol consumption is directly tied to cancers such as breast, throat, liver, and colon, regardless of the type of drink consumed. The advisory also recommends updating public health guidelines, encouraging healthcare providers to screen for alcohol use, and educating the public on the dangers of drinking.