Surgeon General Wants Alcohol Warning Labels to Note Cancer Risk | Global News Avenue

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on Friday called for new warning labels on alcohol as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the country.

According to the Department of Health, where the surgeon general is affiliated, less than half of Americans are aware that alcohol increases the risk of cancer, despite evidence that drinking alcohol causes seven types of cancer. In a press release on Friday, Murthy said that to create awareness, warning labels should be placed on alcoholic beverage packages stating that drinking alcohol can cause cancer and consumption guidelines should be re-evaluated.

“Alcohol is a recognized, preventable cause of cancer, responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths in the United States each year, exceeding the 13,500 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States each year – but most U.S. People are not aware of the risk,” Murthy said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, or vocal cords. When considering factors that influence cancer risk, only smoking and obesity conferred a greater cancer risk. The department says people have control.

Warning labels need congressional approval

Federal officials are updating alcohol nutrition guidelines, but changing warning labels on alcoholic beverages will require congressional approval, according to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Agency.

Current alcohol warning labels warn that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and that alcohol can impair driving ability and cause health problems.

The Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, has been urging the federal government and Congress to note the link between drinking and cancer in warning labels, a message that has not changed since it was approved in 1988.

Alcoholic beverage company stocks slide

Shares of companies that make and distribute beer, wine and spirits fell on Friday as investors weighed how warnings from health authorities might affect alcohol sales.

Diageo shares (Diesel generator set), which makes alcoholic brands such as Johnnie Walker whiskey, Tanqueray gin and Guinness beer, fell more than 3% in afternoon trading. Beer Company Constellation Brands (streptozotocin) and Anheuser-Busch InBev (bud) fell by 1% and 2% respectively.

Muti’s warning comes during “Dry January”, when some people abstain from alcohol for a month at the start of the new year.

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about higher tariffs and a broader cultural shift away from drinking has also put pressure on alcohol companies.