The United States must follow the surgeon general's call for cancer warning labels on Friday alcoholhe will join a small contingent of nations counseling risk drinkers.
In 1988, the World Health Organization concluded that alcohol is carcinogenic to humans has been saying for years The harms of alcohol are well documented. “A safe amount of alcohol consumption for cancer cannot be determined” WHO informed In 2023.
But a group of researchers noted that a to learn According to data published in 2020, only a quarter of the world's countries require any health warnings about alcohol. Their language is generally vague and cancer warnings are rare.
US surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy's report includes an overview of studies and reviews published over the past 20 years, including a global study of 195 countries and territories involving 28 million people. Research has shown that higher alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cancer.
There are a few countries that link cancer to alcohol or consider more aggressive labels.
South Korea
Only South Korea has a liver cancer warning label. In 2016, the country mandated a set of alcohol labels, some of which contained liver cancer warnings.
However, manufacturers may choose to apply alternative labels to their products that do not mention cancer.
According to the World Health Organization, South Korea has long been ranked high in alcohol consumption sometimes he tried to take action against the national drinking culture. In 2012, for example, the police in Seoul announced the raid about drunken violence.
Ireland
Starting in 2026, all beer, wine and liquor containers will be required to carry labels in red capitals with the words “ALCOHOL IS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH DEADLY CANCER” and “Drinking ALCOHOL CAUSES LIVER DISEASE.” it was sold in Ireland.
The regulation comes into effect in 2023 and will make Ireland the first country to mandate any level of alcohol linked to cancer. World Cancer Research Fund.
For years, Ireland has sought various aggressive measures to curb alcohol use. In 2022, the country a minimum The alcohol price is a move that the country's public health minister, Stephen Donnelly, has called “designed to reduce serious illness and death from alcohol consumption and reduce the pressure on our health services from alcohol-related conditions”.
Ireland has been at the forefront of other public health policies in the past. In 2004, it became the first country to ban smoking in indoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Since its implementation, more than 70 countries have followed suit.
Efforts of other countries
Norway is already too much regulates limiting the sale of alcohol and beer to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and to sell wine, spirits and “strong beer” only in state liquor stores. But this is how the country has been in recent years is developing suggestions to include a cancer warning, according to local news media.
Thailand is also working on a regulation that would require labels with graphic images of alcohol and text warnings such as “alcohol can cause cancer.” This was reported by The Bangkok Post. Industry groups criticized the proposal.
Although Canada does not mandate alcohol-related cancer warnings, legislation has been introduced to require labels stating the direct link. Canadian Parliament in 2022. In 2017, a group of researchers in Canada tried to study the effects of cancer warning labels, but complaints from alcohol trade groups led let the local government stop the investigation.
Authorities in recent years Canada, Britain and several other countries have endorsed the idea that there is no safe level of drinking. Some governments in countries with high alcohol rates have also taken action to reduce consumption. including in Russiathe effort here has been one of his primary public health goals.
Roni Caryn Rabin and Ted Alcorn contributed to the report.