Is It time to Add Cancer-Specific Warning Labels to Alcohol?

Could adding cancer-specific warning labels to alcoholic beverages help deter excessive alcohol consumption?

That’s an idea raised by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), whose most recent report highlights that many people are unaware alcohol increases the risk of certain cancers.

One study cited in the AACR report found that alcohol contributes to 5.4% of cancer diagnoses, building on decades of research linking alcohol to various cancers. The National Cancer Institute also states that there’s “a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer.”

However, awareness remains low. A recent survey conducted by Ohio State University revealed that more than half of the participants had no idea that alcohol consumption is linked to cancer risk.

According to the AACR report, alcohol is linked to six types of cancer, including breast, liver, esophageal, stomach, bladder, and several types of head and neck cancers.

“Raising awareness of risk factors for cancer and how to modify that risk is critical,” said Matthew Kalady, MDchief of colorectal cancer surgery at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital.

Should Alcohol Have Stronger Health Warning Labels?

The AACR report suggests that stronger warning labels on alcohol, along with effective clinical strategies, could help “reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers.”

The current alcohol labels in the United States are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. These labels warn of birth defects from alcohol consumption during pregnancy, caution against driving or operating machinery under the influence, and state that alcohol “may cause health problems.”

In 2026, the Republic of Ireland will add warning labels linking alcohol to cancer, and several other countries are considering similar measures.

While no official changes have been announced in the U.S., Stat reported that the Tax and Trade Bureau had discussed strengthening alcohol warning labels to include more health risk information. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services include alcohol consumption limits in the Dietary Guidelines for Americansadditional health warnings about alcohol could be added when the guidelines are updated in 2025. Recommendation updates are expected this December.

Why Is It Hard to Add Cancer-Specific Warnings to Alcohol?

While the evidence on the link between alcohol and cancer is compelling, public health messaging on alcohol is challenging, said Timothy Rebbeck, PhDan epidemiologist who specializes in cancer prevention at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

While abstaining from alcohol is the safest option, the risk varies by individual. It’s hard to measure “whether that glass of wine with dinner over the weekend is going to increase your risk of cancer,” Rebbeck said.

In contrast, tobacco’s direct link to lung cancer made warning labels on cigarettes highly effective, Rebbeck explained. With alcohol, the relationship is more complex, as factors like DNA damage, hormone changes, and inflammation—either individually or together—are still being studied for their role in cancer development.

A complicating factor, Rebbekh added, “is that we used to believe that drinking alcohol in moderation. Red wine, in particular, had cardiovascular benefits. More recent studies, however, have found that the heart health benefit attributed to wine might actually be a result of some people having healthier lifestyles and higher incomes.”

He said that if cancer warnings are added to alcoholic beverages, they need to be done in a way that’s perceived as a health message and “not the government trying to control your life.”

This is why public education about the link between cancer and alcohol, along with other health risks, is so important, Rebbekh said. “When it comes to alcohol, we should be aware of the risks so that we can mitigate them,” he added.