America’s top public health official, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, has urged for risk warnings on alcoholic beverages similar to the labels on cigarettes. This recommendation follows new research that links alcohol consumption to seven types of cancer. The Surgeon General highlighted that the majority of Americans are unaware of the risks, which contribute to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Murthy’s proposal would require an act of Congress to amend the current warning labels, which have remained unchanged since 1988. He also advocates reassessing the recommended limits for alcohol consumption and increasing public education about the link between alcohol and cancer.
Alcohol is recognized as the third most common preventable cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity. Research has confirmed a direct connection between alcohol consumption and the risk of seven cancers, including those of the breast, throat, liver, oesophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon, regardless of the type of alcohol consumed (beer, wine, or spirits).
The existing alcohol labels already caution against drinking during pregnancy and warn that alcohol impairs the ability to drive. However, these do not address cancer risks.
Globally, several countries have introduced warning labels on alcohol products. Ireland, for example, will require all alcoholic beverage bottles to carry a cancer warning starting in 2026. South Korea also mandates cancer-specific warnings. In contrast, the US currently lacks such legislation, and it remains uncertain whether the incoming administration will support these changes.
The announcement has impacted the stock prices of US-listed alcohol companies, including Diageo, which saw a drop of up to 4%.
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