A new call from the highlighting their link to increased cancer risk has received mixed reactions in Australia.
US surgeon general Vivek Murthy made the call earlier this week, saying that while alcohol consumption increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer, most American consumers were unaware.
While alcoholic drinks in the US carry labels warning that consuming alcohol while pregnant can cause birth defects and impair judgement when operating machinery, they do not mention increased cancer risk.
It's a similar situation in Australia, where 80 per cent of the country's adults consume alcohol at some level throughout the year, and 36 per cent drink weekly.
However, a 2024 survey of 2,000 adult Australian respondents by the organisation Alcohol Change Australia found fewer than half (46 per cent) knew that alcohol can cause cancer.
According to Cancer Australia, 5.6 per cent of cancer cases in Australia are linked to long-term alcohol use.
Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council already provides guidelines to minimise risks.
It advises healthy adults to consume no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than four on any given day.
For pregnant or breastfeeding women and individuals under 18, the recommendation is to avoid alcohol completely.
With an Australian standard drink containing 10 grams of pure alcohol, even moderate consumption can contribute to long-term health risks.
What do Australians think?
SBS News spoke to multiple people at The Rocks in Sydney about their thoughts on the proposal in the US.
"Alcohol is poison, we keep poisoning ourselves, and we enjoy it," one man said, highlighting the strong social norm of alcohol consumption despite known health risks.
A woman expressed her concern about the specific risks to women, saying: "I had heard that [for] breast cancer, there is a risk with drinking alcohol. So I certainly think from a woman's perspective it would be useful to have warnings."
Others emphasised the importance of informed choice.
"At least it would raise awareness, making sure people are aware, and then they can make their own choices," another man said.
However, some expressed doubts about the efficacy of such a label, and not everyone agreed on the necessity of additional regulation.
"I don't think warning labels would make much of a difference. I think people are pretty self-aware these days about the risks," one person said.
"I think it would work," another said. But I don't think it's entirely necessary [for] an industry that is already hamstrung by a lot of regulation in terms of excising, taxing, and all the rest of it. Everyone has their vices, I suppose."
For some, the potential benefits of warning labels were more personal.
"I totally agree with that (having a warning label). I have breaks from alcohol, and I feel much better when I'm off the alcohol," shared another man.
Do Australians have a 'right to know' about the risks of alcohol?
Julia Stafford from the Cancer Council's Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee says introducing a warning label in Australians would help those who drink understand the risks.
"The basic principle with health warning labels on products is that people have a right to know, have a right to be aware about the risks of products so that they can consider that," she told SBS News.
Eighty per cent of Australia's adults consume alcohol at some level throughout the year. Source: Getty / Oscar Wong
"I think that's a really important message for Australia to be building in terms of health warning labels and broader education campaigns."
Does anywhere in the world have cancer warning labels on alcohol?
The US is not the only place in the world that has taken steps towards warning people of the link between alcohol consumption and developing cancer.
In 2023, legislation was signed in Ireland requiring alcohol drinks sold in the country to have labels warning of the risk of developing cancer by consuming alcohol.
Specifically, beer, wine and liquor sold in the country will be required to prominently state in large red lettering: "There is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers."
Other labels will specifically mention liver disease and the risks associated with drinking while pregnant.
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'We keep on poisoning ourselves and enjoying it': Experts call for cancer warnings on alcohol
SBS News
05/01/202504:22
The requirement is set to commence in 2026, and would make Ireland the first country in the world to mandate a warning linking any level of alcohol consumption to cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.
In South Korea, manufacturers are required to place a label warning consumers of the risks associated with alcohol. However, they can choose one message from a group of mandated labels, and only two out of three contain references to cancer.
Stafford said the examples of Ireland and the US surgeon general's warning showed momentum was building internationally.
"A lot of countries around the world are now looking at [those examples] and the very clear advice around the link between alcohol and cancer and are understanding the need to inform the community.
"Australians have a right to know if the products they are using can cause them harm."
