US Surgeon-General Calls for Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Drinks
The US surgeon-general, Vivek Murthy, has called for a shift towards more aggressive regulation of the alcohol industry, recommending that drinks carry a warning about cancer risks on their labels. This move could signal a new era of tobacco-style regulation for the sector.
According to Murthy, alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colon, and liver cancer. However, most US consumers remain unaware of this risk. The surgeon-general’s advisory also calls for the guidelines on alcohol consumption limits to be reassessed, so that people can weigh the cancer risk when deciding whether or how much to drink.
The Current State of Affairs
US dietary guidelines currently recommend two or fewer drinks per day for men and one drink or less per day for women. However, the surgeon-general’s report highlights that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity.
The type of alcohol consumed does not matter, according to the report, which also notes that drinking is responsible for 100,000 US cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year, more than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash deaths.
Industry Reaction
The advisory sent shares in alcohol companies, including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Heineken, down by up to 3%. However, alcohol producers and industry associations did not immediately comment on the proposal.
Background and Context
This move is reminiscent of the early US surgeon-general action on tobacco, starting with a 1964 report that concluded smoking could cause cancer. The report led to decades of increasingly strict regulations, including US laws on warning labels, which are still ongoing today.
What’s Next?
The decision to update the label will ultimately be made by Congress. It is unclear when or if the surgeon-general’s suggestions will be adopted, as the US president’s administration is entering its final two weeks. Dr. Murthy could be succeeded by Janette Nesheiwat, a director of a New York chain of urgent care clinics and president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the role.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the new report?
The report aims to raise awareness about the risks of cancer associated with alcohol consumption and to encourage responsible drinking habits. - What are the current guidelines on alcohol consumption?
US dietary guidelines recommend two or fewer drinks per day for men and one drink or less per day for women. - How many cancer cases and deaths are attributed to alcohol consumption each year?
According to the report, alcohol is responsible for 100,000 US cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year.