Alcohol and Cancer Risk: Why Warning Labels Matter

Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed products in the United States, yet its federal warning label does not mention one of its most serious health risks: cancer. 

The 2025 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory estimates that nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States are linked to alcohol use. Alcohol is classified as a known human carcinogen and is associated with at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, liver, esophageal, mouth, throat, and laryngeal cancers. Research shows that cancer risk increases with alcohol consumption, even at low levels. There is no completely risk-free level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer. 

Despite this evidence, the federal alcohol warning label, unchanged since 1988, does not reference cancer risk. Tobacco products are required to carry explicit cancer warnings. Alcohol, also classified as a carcinogen, does not, and fewer than half of Americans are aware of the connection between alcohol and cancer. Studies indicate that clear warning labels can increase awareness and influence behavior, and the Surgeon General has recommended updating labels to reflect current science. 

The Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance (HIAPA) is a statewide coalition dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harm through public education and evidence-based policy. The alliance brings together community members, health advocates, and partner organizations to promote policies that protect public health and safety in Hawaiʻi. HIAPA works to raise awareness about alcohol’s impact on communities while supporting prevention strategies that reduce alcohol-related injuries, disease, and deaths.  In response, HIAPA  introduced legislation this session (SB 2733) to require clear cancer warning information on alcohol products sold in Hawaiʻi. While the bill did not get a hearing this year, the goal is to ensure people in Hawaiʻi have accurate, up-to-date information about alcohol’s cancer risk to support informed decision-making. 

Updating warning requirements is not about prohibition. It is about aligning public policy with established scientific evidence and strengthening prevention-focused strategies that support healthier communities across Hawai‘i.

References

1. U.S. Surgeon General. (2025). Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/oash-alcohol-cancer-risk.pdf