America’s top doctor has called for risk warnings on alcoholic beverages, similar to cigarette labels, after new research links the drinks to seven types of cancer.
An advisory from US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says “most Americans are unaware of this risk” which leads to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually in the US.
Changing the existing warning labels, which have not been updated since 1988, would require an act of Congress.
Mr. Murthy also called for a review of recommended limits for alcohol consumption and increased educational efforts regarding alcoholic beverages and cancer.
The surgeon general, who is the federal government’s lead spokesperson on public health issues, said alcohol is the third most common cause of preventable cancer after tobacco and obesity.
“A direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is well established for at least seven types of cancer … regardless of the type of alcohol (eg beer, wine and spirits) consumed,” said Mr. Murthy in the statement.
These include an increased risk of throat, liver, throat, esophagus, mouth, larynx and colon cancer.
The new report recommends that health care providers should encourage alcohol screening and referral to treatment as needed, and that efforts to increase general awareness should be expanded.
Warning labels must currently state that women who are pregnant should not drink alcohol due to the risk of birth defects. It must also state that “drinking alcoholic beverages reduces your ability to drive or operate machinery and may cause health problems”.
Share prices of US spirits companies – including Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker – fell as much as 4% after the announcement.
