The US surgeon general says alcohol causes cancer — and needs a warning label like cigarettes
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- Dr. Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, has released a report warning that alcohol causes cancer.
- It is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the US, after smoking and obesity, he said.
- The report follows a growing number of studies showing the potential harms of drinking alcohol.
The US Surgeon General wants to see cancer warnings on wine, beer, and spirits.
Alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, but less than half of Americans recognize it as a risk factor, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an advisory published Friday.
This is in contrast to the 89% of Americans who are aware of the links between smoking cigarettes and cancer, according to a 2019 survey of US adults aged 18 and older carried out by the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity.
Research has found that drinking alcohol leads to an increased risk of seven cancers, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, mouth, and throat and larynx, the advisory said.
The risk increases the more a person drinks, and for certain cancers like breast, mouth, and throat, the risk can start to rise at one or fewer drinks a day, according to the advisory.
Warning labels on alcoholic drinks haven't changed since the '80s
Murthy recommended updating warnings on packaging to raise awareness of alcohol's link to cancer.
"Health warning labels are well-established and effective approaches to increasing awareness of health hazards and fostering behavior change," the advisory said.
Currently, health warning labels on alcoholic beverages mention general "health risks," as well as instructing pregnant women and those about to drive or operate machinery not to drink.
They have not been changed since 1988, The New York Times reported.
Ian Hamilton, an associate professor at the University of York's Department of Health Sciences, who researches drug use, policy, treatment, and prevalence, told Business Insider that there is a general lack of understanding of the role alcohol plays in several types of cancer.
"Many people aren't aware of this, so having this clearly laid out and explained is a welcome development," he said.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.