The link between alcohol use and cancer has become an increasingly urgent issue in Australia, with health experts and organisations calling for greater awareness and action. In coalition with Alcohol Change Australia, Cancer Council WA is advocating for the introduction of health warning labels on alcoholic beverages to better inform the public about the long-term risks associated with drinking.
Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is a definite cause of cancer. However, many Australians remain unaware of the significant link between alcohol and a range of cancers. Recent data reveals that around four per cent of all new cancer cases in Australia are due to alcohol. Alcohol use is currently linked to seven types of cancer: mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, breast, liver, and bowel. There is no safe level of alcohol use when it comes to cancer risk, as even moderate drinking can increase the likelihood of developing these cancers.
In response to growing concerns, some countries have already implemented warning labels on alcoholic beverages. South Korea introduced a liver cancer warning label, while Ireland is set to launch a stronger label next year, warning about the risks of liver disease, fatal cancers, and alcohol use during pregnancy. These actions are part of a broader global effort to raise awareness of alcohol's harmful effects.
The United States has also joined the conversation, with the Surgeon General's recent advisory calling for warning labels on alcohol. The advisory emphasises that all levels of alcohol use carry a risk of cancer, and even lower levels of drinking can contribute to a significant number of cancer cases due to the sheer volume of people who drink less than two alcoholic beverages per day.
In Australia, there are increasing calls for governments to follow suit. Cancer Council is urging the government to introduce health warning labels on all alcoholic products that are mandated, standardised and present health messages prioritising cancer risk messaging. This will help build community understanding of the risks of alcohol use.
Julia Stafford, Cancer Council WA Alcohol Program Manager, has stressed the need for clear, visible, and effective warning labels.
"We know a lot about how to design warning labels for products that make sure that they're effective. They need to be clear, visible and understood, and the message needs to be tested with the community. It needs to be placed on the front of a package where it can be clearly seen. Not hidden on the side or back or underneath a product."
Stafford added that warning labels, combined with other public health initiatives, could help address the risks associated with alcohol use.
"It's well established, there is no doubt that alcohol is a cause of cancer. The community have a right to know that and effective warning labels on products as well as other education approaches to build that community awareness are very appropriate in Australia," she said.
Video: Watch Cancer Council WA's Julia Stafford in an ABC News interview "Should cancer warning labels be put on alcohol?"
