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In 2019-2020, 72 per cent of U.S. adults reported they consumed one or more drinks per week. But less than half of U.S. adults are aware of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.

Direct link established

The direct link was first established in the late 1980s, the study notes, and evidence shows a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx).

Among its recommendations to reduce alcohol-related cancers, the U.S. Public Health Service is calling for alcohol-containing beverages to include warning labels about the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption.

While the recommendations aren’t binding, Canadians may be wondering if we could see warning labels on beer, wine and spirits in the near future.

Canada studies warning labels

Mark Johnson, spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, said the federal government has been carefully examining the use of health warning labels on alcohol.

“Alcohol use can have significant health and social impacts on individuals and communities,” Johnson said in an email to Metroland.

The latest edition of identifies a link between alcohol use and various forms of cancer, including liver, breast, throat and stomach cancer.

For example, Health Canada conducted a to better understand how warning labels affect alcohol consumption.

The study revealed per capita retail alcohol sales in Whitehorse decreased by 6.31 per cent during the intervention. Per capita sales of labelled products decreased by 6.59 per cent, whereas sales of unlabeled products increased by 6.91 per cent.

Public awareness

Health Canada provided $1.08 million to the Canadian Institute for Substance Use and Research, through the Substance Use and Addictions Program, to increase public awareness of the risks and harms associated with alcohol use and to help consumers make informed decisions about alcohol use.

“These projects contribute to building the evidence base on labelling and can inform possible future policy decisions,” said Johnson.

In 2020, Health Canada provided $1.5 million to the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) to update Canada’s guidance on alcohol. Following the release of the CCSA’s final report in 2023, Health Canada provided CCSA with $2 million over two years (2023-2025) to inform the development of tailored knowledge mobilization and dissemination tools to communicate the risks and harms of alcohol consumption to diverse, at-risk populations across Canada.

“This engagement will help Health Canada better understand the regional variations and impacts of alcohol use in Canada, its effects on various populations, and inform future policy direction to address alcohol-related harms,” said Johnson.

2011 guidelines remain in place

Johnson noted Canada’s remain the Government of Canada’s sole guidance on alcohol consumption.

For women, current guidelines for consumption limits are no more than two standard drinks per day, 10 drinks per week or three drinks on special occasions.

For men, the guidelines are no more than three standard drinks per day, 15 drinks per week and four standard drinks on special occasions.