Stronger Warning Labels for Alcohol Demanded: A Call from the US Surgeon General

The U.S. Surgeon General has called in a recent report for alcoholic beverages to carry warning labels informing about the cancer risk. According to the report, alcohol consumption has been proven to increase the risk of developing several types of cancer. Nevertheless, the majority of the population is unaware of this danger. Vivek Murthy, the top health expert in the U.S., argues for a reevaluation of the current guidelines on alcohol limits. This would allow consumers the opportunity to more strongly consider the cancer risk in their decision for or against alcohol consumption. Previous warnings have primarily addressed birth defects and the dangers of operating machinery under the influence of alcohol. Ultimately, the U.S. Congress will decide whether the existing labels, unchanged since 1988, will be updated. It is possible that Janette Nesheiwat, head of a clinic group in New York, will take over Murthy's role under the new administration. This announcement had immediate effects on the stock market: The values of U.S.-listed alcohol manufacturers such as Brown-Forman and Molson Coors dropped by about one percent in pre-market trading. European spirits producers like Remy Cointreau also recorded significant losses. After tobacco and obesity, alcohol consumption is considered the third most important preventable cause of cancer in the U.S. The report states that alcohol is directly related to at least seven types of cancer, regardless of whether beer, wine, or spirits are consumed. Affected cancer types include esophageal, oral, and throat cancers. Each year, alcohol causes 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S.—far more than the 13,500 fatalities from alcohol-related traffic accidents. The report recommends that healthcare facilities should increasingly focus on alcohol screenings and expand educational measures.