The office of the US Surgeon General has leaned on the country’s lawmakers to update warning labels on alcohol to emphasise the risk of developing cancer from consuming alcohol.
An advisory published today claims that “the majority of Americans are unaware” of the “direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk”. The note, the full version of which can be viewed here, has been backed by six shareable graphics highlighting the link and concludes with a request to Congress for an overhaul of existing labelling on alcoholic beverages.
“Alcohol use is very common,” the advisory states. “In 2019-2020, 72% of US adults reported they consumed one or more drinks per week, but less than half of US adults are aware of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
“The direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time.”
Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy also highlighted that the current warning label for alcohol in the US, which refers to the danger to women when pregnant and to vehicle drivers and machinery operators, “has remained unchanged since its inception in 1988”.
“Given the conclusive evidence on the cancer risk from alcohol consumption and the Office of the Surgeon General’s responsibility to inform the American public of the best available scientific evidence, the Surgeon General recommends an update to the Surgeon General’s warning label for alcohol-containing beverages to include a cancer risk warning,” the note concludes.
Just over a month ago, industry-funded NGO the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking said that its brand-owner member companies had exceeded an internal target of 95% for 2024 to embed five compliance measures for their brands’ online presence.
