January 6, 2025
Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States … yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in an advisory published on Friday calling for cancer warnings on alcoholic beverages.
Why It Matters: Dr. Murthy, described as “the Nation’s Doctor,” called on Congress to change the existing warning labels on alcohol to include not just warnings against drunk driving and drinking while pregnant but also state that alcohol “may cause health problems.” His advisory emphasizes that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the country (tobacco and obesity outranking it), and consumption has been shown to increase risk for multiple types of cancer, such as breast, liver and throat cancers. Looking ahead, the surgeon general’s recommendations do not have a clear path in Congress or signs of bipartisan support, and changes to labels could take years.
Image Credit: draghicich / Adobe Stock
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
