Surgeon General Proposes Cancer Warning on Alcohol
On Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed that alcohol should have clear labels warning about its cancer risks. This suggestion comes as more research shows the harmful effects of alcohol on health. Murthy emphasized that Americans need to be better informed about the connection between alcohol and cancer, as alcohol has been linked to nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the U.S. over the last decade. Every year, around 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers, according to his advisory.
Link between Alcohol and Cancer
In his new advisory, Murthy pointed out that there is a well-established connection between alcohol and at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancers. Even drinking one or fewer drinks per day can increase the risk of cancers like breast, mouth, and throat, his office noted.
Policy Changes to Address Alcohol-Related Cancer
As part of the advisory, Murthy called for some important policy changes. He suggested that alcohol labels should have a visible warning about the cancer risk. He also recommended reassessing the current alcohol consumption limits based on the latest research and increasing public education to raise awareness of alcohol’s cancer risks.
These recommendations are similar to the steps taken in the past to reduce tobacco use, such as requiring warning labels on cigarette packaging and in stores. The Surgeon General urged people to think about the link between alcohol and cancer when deciding whether to drink and how much to consume.
Alcohol as a Leading Cause of Cancer
According to the advisory, alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. “Alcohol is a preventable cause of cancer, leading to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the U.S.,” said Murthy. This is more than the 13,500 deaths caused by alcohol-related car crashes each year in the U.S. However, most Americans are not aware of this risk.
Low Awareness among Americans
Between 2019 and 2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported having at least one drink per week, but less than half knew about the connection between alcohol and cancer risk. Globally, 741,300 cancer cases in 2020 were caused by alcohol, the Surgeon General said.
Impact of Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths
Alcohol-related cancer deaths shorten the lives of those affected by an average of 15 years. Interestingly, younger Americans are drinking less alcohol and turning to nonalcoholic alternatives. According to a Gallup survey from August, around two-thirds of adults aged 18 to 34 believe alcohol harms their health, compared to less than 40% of people aged 35 to 54 and 55 and older.
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