Estimation 1 in 5 people Adults of drinking age in the United States are abstaining from alcohol during “Dry January.” Motivations for participating vary from wanting to avoid a hangover, losing weight, or simply trying something new. However, few of these millions of people realize that by drinking less alcohol, they are also reducing their risk of developing cancer.
Government-mandated warning labels warn that alcohol can impair the ability to operate heavy machinery and cause birth defects. But why don't these warning labels tell the full truth that alcohol increases the risk of infection? 7 types of cancer: Cancer of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, breast, liver, colon?
As consumers, we have become accustomed to cancer warnings on cigarettes. But alcohol, one of the leading causes of preventable cancer, has escaped this scrutiny. Alcohol consumption currently contributes to 53,000 people new cancer cases In a year, third largest In fact, alcohol consumption is classified as a preventable cause of cancer in the United States. Group 1 carcinogensbelongs to the same category as cigarettes.
But millions of Americans still don't know the health risks they face. 1 citizen investigation We found that only about one-third of U.S. adults are aware that alcohol consumption increases cancer risk. in another study88% of women knew that having a family history of breast cancer increased the risk of breast cancer, compared to only 25% of women who knew that alcohol increased the risk.
On January 3, the Surgeon General called on policymakers to: cancer warning in a container of alcohol. As public health researchers who study warnings on products such as ultra-processed foods, tobacco, and alcohol, we couldn't agree more.
Product warnings are little billboards that grab our attention at the exact moment we need information about a product's risks: when deciding what to buy or consume. If designed effectively, alcohol warnings could help Americans better understand the harms of drinking and decide for themselves how much risk they are willing to accept.
The new cancer warning will add to the inadequate warnings currently in place in the United States. The current warnings, which have not been updated since they were mandated more than 30 years ago, only discuss risks associated with driving, operating heavy equipment, and hazards. pregnancy.
These are harms that most people already know about and only apply to some drinkers. (When was the last time most of us operated a bulldozer?) Also, current warnings only appear on the back or side of the container, and most consumers don't notice them there.
We urge policymakers and the public to support new, high-visibility warnings on alcohol that properly inform consumers that alcohol increases the risk of cancer. These new warnings must reflect scientific evidence about why they are effective.
For example, alerts should include images and icons. These help convey information to users. 25.7 million people In America, there is limited English proficiency. Warnings must also appear on the front of the product packaging (rather than on the back or side) so that consumers are aware of it.
Regulators should also rotate the content of warnings over time (for example, alternating warnings about different types of cancer). This keeps messages from becoming stale and increases the likelihood that consumers will encounter warnings that are personally relevant to them.
Tobacco companies have fought hard for decades against stricter warning labels on cigarettes. Today, the alcohol industry appears to be adopting the same strategy of prioritizing profit over public health.
In 2017, the alcohol industry went so far as to halt a Canadian study aimed at researching cancer. caveat. Even more modest changes to alcohol labels have faced industry resistance.
For example, in March 2024, the Treasury Department proposed requiring alcoholic beverage companies to disclose alcohol content, allergens, and ingredients on product packaging, similar to the information already required for non-alcoholic beverages. Department of Website Comments from the alcohol industry poured in against these common-sense efforts to increase transparency. We expect the alcohol industry to fight cancer warnings as well.
Our view is that the alcohol industry should not play a role in shaping policy regarding alcohol warning labels because the conflict of interest is too great. Their ultimate goal is to sell as much alcohol as possible, despite the prevalence of “drink in moderation” industry jargon. As a result, the alcohol industry will likely seek ineffective warnings or avoid issuing new warnings at all.
We don't expect the new warnings to stop people from drinking alcohol completely. Also, abstinence from drinking is not the goal. Instead, new, well-designed warnings can help consumers make more informed decisions about whether and how much they should drink.
For some of us, enjoying a craft IPA or glass of wine with friends is worth the increased risk of cancer, but we have the right to make that informed choice. Introducing cancer warnings about alcohol would be a simple and powerful step towards helping people make informed choices. 130 million Americans who drink alcohol.
Dr. Marissa G. Hall is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Anna H. Grammon, Ph.D., MS, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and (kindly) health policy and director of the Stanford Food Policy Institute.
