- Dr. Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, released a report warning that alcohol can cause cancer.
- It's the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity, he said.
- The report cited a growing number of studies examining the harms of drinking alcohol.
The US surgeon general wants to see cancer warnings on wine, beer, and spirits.
In an advisory published Friday, the surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, said that alcohol was a leading cause of cancer but that less than half of Americans in a 2019 survey recognized it as a risk factor.
In contrast, in that 2019 survey, conducted by the American Institute for Cancer Research, 89% of US adults indicated they were aware of the links between cigarettes and cancer.
The advisory said alcohol consumption was the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity.
It described research that has linked drinking alcohol to an increased risk of seven cancers: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, mouth, throat, and larynx.
It added that the risk increases the more a person drinks and that for certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat, the risk can start to rise at one or fewer drinks a day.
Warning labels on alcoholic drinks haven't changed since the '80s
Murthy recommended updating warnings on packaging to raise awareness of alcohol's link to cancer.
"Health warning labels are well-established and effective approaches to increasing awareness of health hazards and fostering behavior change," the advisory said.
Existing warning labels on alcoholic beverages mention general health risks and instruct people to avoid drinking if they're pregnant or about to drive or operate machinery. The labels haven't been changed since 1988, The New York Times reported.
Ian Hamilton, an associate professor at the University of York's Department of Health Sciences who researches drug use, policy, treatment, and prevalence, told Business Insider that there's a general lack of understanding of alcohol's role in several types of cancer.
"Many people aren't aware of this, so having this clearly laid out and explained is a welcome development," he said.
Richard de Visser, a professor of health psychology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School who researches alcohol use and behavior change, argued that warning labels could be useful for raising awareness but should be part of a comprehensive approach to alcohol harm reduction.
"We also need to develop individuals' motivation and skills and also provide opportunities for healthier behavior," he told BI.