U.S. Surgeon General Advocates Cancer Warning on Alcohol Labels

On Friday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory urging that alcoholic beverages carry labels warning consumers about the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption, similar to the labels on tobacco products. Murthy emphasized the established connection between alcohol use and an increased risk of developing at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, and liver cancers.

Murthy’s office highlighted that even consuming one or fewer alcoholic drinks per day can elevate the risk of developing cancers such as those of the mouth, throat, and breast. He also called for a reevaluation of the current alcohol consumption guidelines to allow individuals to make more informed decisions based on cancer risk when choosing whether or how much to drink.

Currently, U.S. dietary guidelines suggest no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and one for women. However, Murthy pointed out that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., following tobacco and obesity. Notably, the specific type of alcohol consumed does not influence the cancer risk.

Following Murthy’s advisory, shares of major alcohol companies such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Anheuser-Busch, and Heineken dropped, some by more than 3%. Industry groups have yet to respond to the Surgeon General’s recommendations.

It remains unclear whether or when Murthy’s suggestions will be acted upon, as the decision to alter alcohol labels rests with Congress. Additionally, with the Biden administration nearing its final weeks, Murthy may be succeeded by Janette Nesheiwat, a director of urgent care clinics and former Trump administration health official.

While former President Donald Trump, who has personal reasons for warning against alcohol use, has criticized drinking, it remains to be seen whether this advisory will lead to immediate policy changes.