US surgeon general calls for cancer warning on alcohol

WASHINGTON 

The US surgeon general said Friday that alcoholic beverages should carry health warning labels, saying there is a “direct link” between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Alcohol consumption is the third highest source of preventable cancer in the US, behind only tobacco and obesity, and increases risks for at least seven different types of cancer, Dr. Vivek Murthy’s office said in a statement.

“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,” Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a statement. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”

Murthy said consuming alcohol carries an increased risk of breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat, and voice box cancers.

In addition to the warning label, Murthy has recommended a reevaluation of alcohol consumption limit guidelines to account for the cancer risk, and for increased education around the risks.