West Palm Beach, FL/CBS12 News — A bombshell from the U.S. Surgeon General today.
Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for cancer warnings on alcoholic beverages, similar to those on cigarettes, letting people know about increased cancer risk associated with drinking.
The details are spelled out in a U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory.
The bottom line according to this document is many people may not be aware of the link between drinking and certain types of cancer.
“I think that would be great and I hope they do it,” said Dr. Donna Kleban, a breast surgeon at Good Samaritan Medical Center and Wellington Regional Hospital.
Dr. Kleban says she’s glad the U.S. Surgeon General is urging that warning labels be added to alcohol to warn about the link between cancer and drinking alcohol.
“From my point of view I think that would be a wonderful thing to do, I mean since my mission in life has been to prevent and treat cancer,” Dr. Kleban said.
“I always say to my patients who are women, I say for you it’s one alcoholic drink a day. That’s the limit. Maybe on a weekend you’ll have two but that’s it,” said Vivian Carta-Sanchez, a primary care nurse practitioner with Palm Beach Health Network.
The advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General says the link between alcohol and certain types of cancer was first established in the late 1980’s and has grown stronger over time.
It says quote: “…the data in humans on alcohol and health show a strong association between drinking alcohol and increased cancer risk, regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits).”
The advisory also says many adults may not be aware of the link between alcohol and breast cancer, throat cancer and other forms of the disease.
The advisory says quote: “…rigorous research…has shown that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer for at least seven sites: breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx).”
“I’m surprised that the Surgeon General had the bravery to actually release this now,” said Spencer Kuvin, a board-certified civil trial attorney at GOLDLAW in West Palm Beach.
Kuvin says a warning like this could open the floodgates for massive lawsuits against liquor, wine and beer companies, in much the same way cigarette makers have been targeted by smokers who’ve developed lung cancer.
“I certainly think there’s a potential for a large amount of litigation that comes out of this,” Kuvin said.
Kuvin says the challenge there is proving beyond a reasonable doubt that booze caused the cancer, not some other factor.
But if those lawsuits are successful, it could have a significant impact on a huge industry.
“If we start seeing that litigation and if one or two begin to succeed, I think the floodgates will begin to open as to further litigation which could ultimately cripple the industry,” Kuvin explained.
Ultimately it’s not up to the Surgeon General to decide on adding warning labels.
That decision has to be made by Congress. which already approved the current labels which warn about the risks of consuming alcohol if you’re pregnant or operating heavy machinery.
