In a bold recommendation, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is advocating for cancer risk warnings on alcoholic beverages—akin to cigarette labels—after new research reveals a connection between alcohol and seven types of cancer. The appeal arises from data showing that approximately 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 deaths each year in the US are linked to alcohol consumption.
Murthy emphasized that most Americans are unaware of these risks, which position alcohol as the third most common preventable cause of cancer, trailing only tobacco and obesity. The cancers identified include those of the breast, throat, liver, esophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon. He stressed the need for updated educational resources and said that healthcare providers should encourage alcohol screening.
Currently, warning labels on alcoholic drinks in the US mainly caution about the risks of drinking during pregnancy and impaired driving. However, Murthy notes that Ireland is set to become the first country to require cancer warnings on all alcohol bottles starting in 2026, following a trend in several nations toward such health disclosures.
As the US considers these changes, the impacted alcoholic beverage stocks have already started to feel the heat, dropping by up to 4% in value. Murthy's stance seeks not only to inform but to change public perceptions about alcohol consumption and its health implications.
Murthy emphasized that most Americans are unaware of these risks, which position alcohol as the third most common preventable cause of cancer, trailing only tobacco and obesity. The cancers identified include those of the breast, throat, liver, esophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon. He stressed the need for updated educational resources and said that healthcare providers should encourage alcohol screening.
Currently, warning labels on alcoholic drinks in the US mainly caution about the risks of drinking during pregnancy and impaired driving. However, Murthy notes that Ireland is set to become the first country to require cancer warnings on all alcohol bottles starting in 2026, following a trend in several nations toward such health disclosures.
As the US considers these changes, the impacted alcoholic beverage stocks have already started to feel the heat, dropping by up to 4% in value. Murthy's stance seeks not only to inform but to change public perceptions about alcohol consumption and its health implications.
