America’s leading health authority, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, has urged for warning labels on alcoholic beverages, citing research that connects alcohol consumption to an increased risk of seven types of cancer, which account for about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths yearly in the US.
Calls for Cancer Warning Labels on Alcohol Amid New Research
Calls for Cancer Warning Labels on Alcohol Amid New Research
US Surgeon General urges alcohol risk warnings similar to those on cigarettes, linking it to several cancer types.
The recommendation follows a new study highlighting that a significant portion of the American population remains unaware of these health risks, raising concerns over alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer. Current alcohol labels have not been updated since 1988 and only warn against drinking during pregnancy and the impairments caused by alcohol consumption.
Murthy emphasized the strong link between alcohol and breast, throat, liver, oesophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon cancers, prompting a call for updated education efforts on the dangers of alcohol. Furthermore, healthcare providers are encouraged to initiate discussions on alcohol screening and treatments as necessary.
In response to the announcement, shares for major alcohol companies saw declines, with some dropping up to 4%, reflecting the potential impact of regulatory changes on the industry. The Surgeon General’s advisory may signal a shift in how society views alcohol consumption and its associated health risks, similar to the actions taken against tobacco use in past decades.
Murthy emphasized the strong link between alcohol and breast, throat, liver, oesophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon cancers, prompting a call for updated education efforts on the dangers of alcohol. Furthermore, healthcare providers are encouraged to initiate discussions on alcohol screening and treatments as necessary.
In response to the announcement, shares for major alcohol companies saw declines, with some dropping up to 4%, reflecting the potential impact of regulatory changes on the industry. The Surgeon General’s advisory may signal a shift in how society views alcohol consumption and its associated health risks, similar to the actions taken against tobacco use in past decades.
