On Friday, the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory that warned of the correlation between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer, calling for alcoholic beverages to carry a label warning of the potential danger. In a new report, Dr. Vivek Murthy describes alcohol use as the “third leading preventable cause of cancer,” after tobacco and obesity, writing that studies have shown a causal link between drinking and an enhanced risk of at least seven different forms of cancer, including breast and liver cancer.
“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 — greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. — yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy said in a statement. Here’s what we know about the latest warning and the likelihood that Americans will see new labeling on their favorite beverages.
What does the advisory say?
The surgeon general writes that a link between alcohol and cancer was first discovered in the 1980s with evidence supporting that connection continuing to grow through the decades. Per the report, studies have found that alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a cancer-causing compound in the body, and it can also alter hormone levels like estrogen, which can increase one’s risk for breast cancer. Research has associated alcohol consumption with cases of several cancers, including breast, colorectum, esophagus, and liver cancers, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, and larynx.
“In 2019, an estimated 96,730 cancer cases were related to alcohol consumption including 42,400 in men and 54,330 in women. This translates to nearly 1 million preventable cancer cases over ten years in the U.S.,” the advisory reads.
Murthy warns that Americans are largely unaware of the increased risk associated with alcohol consumption. According to the report, only 45 percent of Americans said alcohol use carried a risk of cancer in comparison to 91 percent for radiation exposure and 89 percent for tobacco use in a 2019 survey.
What is the surgeon general’s recommendation?
Murthy is calling for an update to the existing labels on alcoholic beverages that will include a warning about the cancer risk associated with drinking. “Given the conclusive evidence on the cancer risk from alcohol consumption and the Office of the Surgeon General’s responsibility to inform the American public of the best available scientific evidence, the Surgeon General recommends an update to the Surgeon General’s warning label for alcohol-containing beverages to include a cancer risk warning,” the advisory reads.
The current surgeon-general advisories on wine, beer, and liquor labels include warnings against drinking while pregnant and while operating a car or heavy machinery, a statement that has remained unchanged since 1988, Murthy notes. In addition to the new warning, the surgeon general is calling for more cosmetic changes that will make the label “more visible, prominent, and effective in increasing awareness.”
Murthy is also recommending a reassessment of the current recommended limits on alcohol consumption in order to factor in the latest scientific evidence. Under the current guidelines issued by the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services, adults should limit themselves to two drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less a day for women.
How likely is it that the new warning labels will be implemented?
Though Murthy is issuing this advisory, the surgeon general does not have the power to implement the change on their own. Congress will ultimately have the final say on whether alcohol labels will feature an updated warning on cancer risk.
In November, President-elect Donald Trump nominated physician and former Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat to serve as his surgeon general in his incoming administration. Though Trump himself is a teetotaler, it’s currently unclear if Nesheiwat or the administration at large will similarly advocate for such changes.
