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America’s top doctor has called for risk warnings on alcoholic beverages similar to those on cigarette labels after a new study linked the drinks to seven types of cancer.
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s advisory says “most Americans are unaware of this risk,” which causes about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths in the US each year.
An act of Congress would be required to change the existing warning signs, which have not been updated since 1988.
Mr. Murthy also called for a review of recommended alcohol consumption limits and increased education efforts about alcoholic beverages and cancer.
The surgeon general, who is the federal government’s lead health spokesman, said alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer, after tobacco and obesity.
“A direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is well established for at least seven types of cancer … regardless of the type of alcohol (such as beer, wine and spirits) consumed,” Mr Murthy said in statement
This includes an increased risk of cancer of the throat, liver, throat, esophagus, mouth, larynx, and colon.
The new report recommends that health care providers encourage alcohol screening and referral to treatment as needed, and that efforts to increase general awareness should be expanded.
Warning labels are now required to state that pregnant women should not consume alcohol due to the risk of birth defects. It should also state that “drinking alcohol impairs your ability to drive and operate machinery and may cause health problems.”
Share prices of US-listed spirits companies, including Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker, fell as much as 4% after the announcement.
