U.S. Surgeon General Issues New Advisory on Alcohol

January 03, 2025

The U.S. surgeon general released a new public health advisory about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk, while calling for an update to the warning label on alcoholic beverages.

“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States—greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S.—yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a statement today. “This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”

Here's what you need to know:

• The issue:  The advisory summarizes the scientific evidence about alcohol as the third-leading preventable cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity.
  • The risk for developing cancer due to alcohol consumption is “determined by a complex interaction of biological, environmental, social, and economic factors,” the report notes.
  • Breast cancer accounts for most of the alcohol-related cancer deaths in women. For men, liver and colorectal cancer account for the most alcohol-related cancer deaths,
  • Studies have shown a connection between alcohol consumption and cancer at seven sites: breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box.
• Recommendations:  The surgeon general’s advisory calls for an updated health warning label on alcoholic beverages; a review of recommended consumption limits; and more education for the public and patients in clinical settings.
• About the advisory:  The advisory from the surgeon general draws attention to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed.
• Other topics:  The latest advisory follows other recent notices on the mental health and well-being of parents; firearm violence; youth mental health, health worker well-being, and  workplace well-being.
• The bottom line:  “Despite clear evidence demonstrating the effect of alcohol consumption on cancer risk, there is a large gap in public understanding of the risk,” the report notes.

The full advisory is available online.