Alcohol labels should warn of cancer risk, urge health groups
Alcohol needs ‘bold and unambiguous’ cancer warnings, experts say
- Doctors and health experts have urged Sir Keir Starmer to address the lack of public awareness regarding the link between alcohol consumption and cancer.
- An alliance of health experts is calling for “bold and unambiguous” cancer warning labels on alcoholic drinks and a minimum price of 65p per unit in England.
- They say alcohol consumption is proven to cause seven forms of cancer and contributes to 17,000 cases annually, with a significant lack of public understanding of these risks.
- The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) is leading this campaign, emphasising that clear health labelling is crucial to empower consumers to make informed choices.
- While Ireland will become the first country to implement cancer warning labels on alcohol from May, and the World Health Organisation supports such measures, the alcohol industry opposes them, citing potential "unnecessary anxiety".