The US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued an advisory recommending that alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine be given warnings about their link to cancer. The move comes amid growing evidence that even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

In his opinion, Murthy noted that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, causing approximately 20,000 cancer-related deaths annually. 17 percent of these deaths occur among people who consume alcohol according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines – one drink per day for women and two for men. Yet less than half of Americans are aware of the connection between alcohol and cancer.

“What we know with a high degree of certainty is that there is a causal relationship between alcohol and cancer risk. The data has been growing for some time and is only getting stronger,” said Vivek Murthy.

The recommendation cites evidence that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, throat, mouth, esophagus, larynx, colon and liver.

Adding a cancer warning would highlight serious health concerns for products that more than 70% of U.S. adults consume at least once a week and whose nationwide sales will be about $260 billion in 2022.

The call for warnings has been supported by some health organizations, including the American Medical Association. However, others expressed skepticism about the need for labels, citing the complexity of the connection between alcohol and health.

Debate over warning labels on alcohol bottles

The debate over alcohol warnings is not new. In 2020, consumer advocates and medical groups petitioned the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade to update the alcohol warning label. Currently, labels state that alcohol “may be harmful” and warn against consumption by pregnant women.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and the Beer Institute have responded to the Surgeon General’s recommendation, emphasizing the importance of moderation and responsible drinking.

Studies have linked cancer and alcohol since the 1980s, and it ranks only behind tobacco and obesity among preventable causes of disease. Worldwide, alcohol is responsible for around 741,300 cases of cancer every year. Nevertheless, in most countries, including the United States, regulatory focus on alcohol-related health risks remains limited.

The World Health Organization has classified alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans. Of the 47 World Health Organization member countries with alcohol warnings, only South Korea reports cancer. Ireland will require a cancer warning from 2026.