US surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks

Bangkok Post Group

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Friday (January 3) said alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, and that alcoholic drinks should carry a warning about cancer risks on their label. - REUTERS

Transcript

00:00The U.S. Surgeon General says alcoholic drinks should carry a cancer warning label.

00:07In a report on Friday, Vivek Murthy warned that drinking increases the risk of at least

00:12seven types of cancer, and that alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of

00:19cancer in the United States.

00:21I'm not surprised, but it's concerning.

00:24Reactions in New York City bars were mixed.

00:27I think a lot of things can cause cancer, and it doesn't stop people from partaking

00:33and enjoying these things.

00:34The Surgeon General also called for the U.S. Dietary Guidelines on Alcohol Consumption

00:39Limits to be reassessed.

00:41Currently, it's at two or fewer drinks for men per day, and one drink or less per day

00:47for women.

00:48If the Surgeon General's suggestions are adopted, there could be more aggressive tobacco-style

00:54regulation for alcohol in the future.

00:57But will that change Americans' habits?

01:00Christine Drake, a smoker, says it's doubtful.

01:03Because it's an addiction, so if you're going to do it, you're going to do it regardless

01:08of any warnings.

01:10Vivian Vugg, who works as a nurse, agrees.

01:12I've taken care of a lot of people that have damaged their body from smoking and alcohol,

01:21and we try to get them off of it while they're in the hospital, and a lot of them get drunk

01:26on the way home.

01:27So I don't think it's going to make that big of a difference, putting a warning label.

01:32The Surgeon General's advisory says that alcohol is responsible for 100,000 U.S. cancer cases

01:39and 20,000 cancer deaths each year, more than alcohol-associated car crash deaths.

01:46The decision to update drink labels will ultimately be made by Congress.

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