U.S. Surgeon General Issues Warning on Alcohol and Cancer: What It Means

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued an advisory sharing how alcohol increases cancer risk, calling for a new health warning label on alcoholic beverages. The advisory addresses the growing body of evidence about alcohol’s harmful health impacts, including its direct link to cancer. 

According to the statement, alcohol is directly responsible for approximately 75,000 new cancer cases and nearly 19,000 cancer-related deaths annually in the United States. Alcohol consumption has been identified as a risk factor for at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colon, and esophageal cancers. Cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, and the report shares findings that even light to moderate drinking can contribute to cancer risk. 

Surgeon general’s warnings are designed not only to share clear information with the public about health risks, but also to spur action, including policy efforts. They often become turning points in the health behaviors of the country, such as the 1964 surgeon general’s report on smoking, which changed the public perception of cigarettes. 

Public health and cancer researchers have long been sounding the alarm about the public health impact of alcohol. “This recommendation is an essential step forward in raising awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption,” says Mary Beth Terry, PhD, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and associate director for cancer population science and community outreach at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC). “As we saw with smoking, it needs to be accompanied by other policies to have a meaningful impact,” Terry adds. 

The surgeon general’s warning builds upon growing research, including research into how stopping drinking can begin to lower your cancer risk. In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) convened a working group of experts from around, who found that behavior change with alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. 

Terry, who served on the IARC committee, shares the importance of changing behaviors when it comes to alcohol. “What this new research showed is that reducing alcohol intake can also have an impact on your cancer risk. So, the overall message here is, if you can reduce your intake of alcohol or stop altogether, that is certainly the healthier path in terms of cancer risk reduction," she explained. 

The surgeon general’s warning also calls attention to the growing prevalence of binge drinking, which amplifies these risks and poses additional public health challenges. Emerging evidence suggests that episodic heavy drinking not only exacerbates cancer risk but also has a disproportionate impact on young adults and marginalized communities, highlighting the urgency of addressing this public health issue. 

Terry emphasizes that the surgeon general’s recommendation must be part of a broader effort to combat alcohol’s harmful effects. “As with tobacco, a combination of education, policy changes, and community interventions will be crucial to reducing alcohol consumption and, consequently, cancer incidence,” she says. Public health campaigns, stricter labeling requirements, and reassessed recommended limits for alcohol consumption are among the strategies that could complement this warning. 

As awareness grows, individuals can take proactive steps to minimize their risk. Health experts recommend keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum—or eliminating it altogether—and consulting healthcare providers about personal cancer risk factors. For those looking to reduce their intake, resources and support systems are available to facilitate healthier lifestyle choices.