Experts Say Cancer Warnings on Alcohol Could Make a Difference; Bartenders Less Sure
A New Call for Warning Labels
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Friday called for additional warning labels on alcohol, with his office issuing an advisory identifying alcohol as a leading cause of cancer. The advisory states that “cancer risk increases as you drink more alcohol” and that “as you consider whether or how much to drink, keep in mind that less is better when it comes to cancer risk.”
Why the Warning?
According to Dr. Aashish Didwania, vice chair of education at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, few people know that there is an association between alcohol and cancer. The surgeon general’s report states that alcohol consumption is responsible for nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the U.S. over the last decade, with about 20,000 people dying annually from those alcohol-related cancer cases alone.
What Would the Warning Entail?
Congressional approval would be needed to add the warning to alcohol labels. This would change alcohol labels for the first time since about four decades ago, when Congress signed off on adding warnings about drinking while pregnant. The warning could take the form of warning signs or changed display of liquor bottles behind the bar.
Bartender Skeptical
Jefferey Ohrn, a bartender at Montrose Saloon for the last 17 years, doesn’t expect the warning to make a difference. “I don’t have an issue with it,” he said. “It’s on cigarettes and that’s helpful. Whether or not they’ll read it and live by it, who knows…. I’m not sure how big the impact would be. I think people come in here and know what they’re doing.”
Industry Skepticism
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild expressed skepticism in a statement issued Friday. “We will let others debate the science: The science on alcohol consumption is far from settled, and there are many who view ‘no safe level’ as the product of bad science,” said Ray Stout, executive director of the group. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States also expressed reservations, pointing to research that moderate drinking can be associated with lower risks of heart disease.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding alcohol warning labels highlights the complexity of the issue. While some experts believe that warning labels could make a difference in reducing cancer cases, others argue that the science is not settled and that moderate drinking can have benefits. As the government updates dietary guidelines, including those around alcohol, the public will continue to weigh the risks and benefits of moderate drinking.
FAQs
Q: Why is the surgeon general calling for warning labels on alcohol?
A: The surgeon general’s office is identifying alcohol as a leading cause of cancer and is calling for warning labels to raise awareness about the risks associated with excessive drinking.
Q: What would the warning label entail?
A: The warning label would require congressional approval and could take the form of warning signs or changed display of liquor bottles behind the bar.
Q: What does the science say about moderate drinking?
A: The science is mixed, with some studies suggesting that moderate drinking can be associated with lower risks of heart disease, while others argue that any amount of alcohol consumption carries risks.
Q: Will warning labels make a difference?
A: Some experts believe that warning labels could raise awareness and reduce cancer cases, while others argue that the impact will be limited.
