The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, has issued an advisory recommending that alcoholic beverages include a cancer warning label due to their established link to heightened cancer risks, including breast, colon, and liver cancers. The report emphasizes the necessity to revisit alcohol consumption guidelines to better inform the public about these risks, alongside existing warnings about birth defects and machinery operation impairments.
Shares in U.S.-listed alcoholic beverage companies declined between one and two percent following the announcement, with Brown-Forman Corp leading the losses. The advisory highlights that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., implicated in approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year.
Currently, alcohol containers in the U.S. feature health warnings related to pregnancy and driving, a regulation in place since 1988. The Surgeon General’s report advocates for increased public awareness and suggests healthcare providers should promote alcohol screening and necessary treatment referrals.
