US top doctor wants cancer warning on alcohol: What does the science say?

The text-only warning of cancer risks would be the first change to alcohol warning labels since they were first introduced 35 years ago.

United States Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy has reignited a public health debate by proposing cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

Murthy’s proposal accompanied a new advisory (PDF) highlighting growing evidence linking alcohol consumption to several types of cancer.

Why is this call for warning labels significant, and what does the science say about the risks associated with drinking?

The current text-only alcohol warning labels, introduced in 1988, address pregnancy risks and impaired driving but fail to mention cancer risks.

Murthy argues these labels are outdated and insufficient given today’s understanding of alcohol’s health impact.