Putting cancer warning labels on alcohol bottles could take years, experts say
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Some industry experts doubt that the recommendations of US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy of alcohol cancer warning labels will gain momentum in the short term, as one expert suggests that if it does, it may take years to implement.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, who ends his term at the end of January, issued an advisory explaining the direct link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of several cancers including throat, liver, esophagus, mouth, pharynx (voice box), colon and rectal. cancer.
His advice said alcohol is the 3rd leading cause of cancer in the US, contributing to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths annually. It also said that updating health warning labels on alcoholic beverages is “an important next step in preventing alcohol-related cancers.”
Dr. David Shaker, of New Jersey-based Shaker Medical Group, told FOX Business that “there’s no way for anyone to know what’s going to happen, but drawing on history for similar topics is the best way to see the future.”
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As an example, he pointed to the 1964 Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, which officially declared cigarette smoking to be the leading cause of lung cancer and other serious diseases. In 1965, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965 mandated health warning labels on cigarette packages beginning in 1966.
The first warning read, “Warning: Cigarette Smoking Can Be Dangerous To Your Health.
Peter Pitts, former FDA associate commissioner and founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, believes that, if labels are placed on alcohol products, it may take years—if ever—because of the environment. the slow pace of government decision-making.
However, Pitts emphasized that treading carefully, especially in a request of such magnitude, is important, saying, “jumping to conclusions is never a good thing.” He is also skeptical about the timing of the report and encourages more research. He described Murthy’s decision to wait until the end of his term to make the announcement as very strange.
Murthy, who will step down on January 20, will take over following the inauguration of President-elect Trump.
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“If the data has been around for so long, and if the information is so clear, why is he waiting until he’s packed his boxes to leave his office to make this outrageous announcement?” Pitts said. “I want to understand why now compared to three years ago when managers would spend all their time in the office.”
A bartender pours beer from a tap, at the Signature Brew pub, in East London, on August 19, 2022. (HOLLIE ADAMS/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Pitts said the current administration is likely to “spend more time and more effort and spend more political money in advancing such a dramatic proposal as naming alcohol as a cause of cancer.”
He represents new studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that make up the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“If those studies are in, we can really look at the information and understand what it says,” he said. “Then we can step back and say, how can we advise the American people regarding their personal choices and the potential health risks of those choices now?”
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Officials at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the NIH, emphasize the importance of counseling. NCI Director Dr. Kimryn Rathmell said in a recent statement that “advice about alcohol use and cancer risk is important for everyone to hear, especially for those who are at high risk of cancer due to family history or other factors.”
Bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label and Double Black blended scotch whiskey are displayed for sale on January 31, 2024 in Leigh on Sea, England. (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Still, Rathmell told FOX Business that the NCI “continues to do research, so we can provide clear guidance on how people can manage their own risk.”
“NCI will continue to disseminate research findings on alcohol use and cancer risk as policymakers consider the use of product labels,” adding that “knowing the risks of alcohol use is important for people making lifestyle decisions” and that “ensuring the public has reliable information about the risk factor we control is important in preventing cancer.”
The most important thing is “to equip people with information so they can make their own decisions and discuss them with their doctor,” added Rathmell.
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