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
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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.