New U.S. Guidelines Highlight Alcohol's Link to Cancer Risks

The Surgeon General calls for updated warning labels as evidence mounts on cancer risks from even moderate alcohol consumption.

The U.S. Surgeon General released a January 2025 advisory highlighting the connection between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risks, even at moderate levels.
Alcohol is linked to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the U.S., with breast, colorectal, and esophageal cancers among the most affected.
The advisory calls for new warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers of the cancer risks, similar to warnings on tobacco products.
While some studies suggest potential cardiovascular benefits from low alcohol consumption, experts agree that alcohol is a carcinogen and even light drinking carries measurable cancer risks.
Scientists emphasize that individual cancer risk varies based on genetics and lifestyle, but public health recommendations increasingly suggest limiting or avoiding alcohol entirely.