Feb. 9, 2025
By Cal Gonzalez
Staff Writer
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Jan. 3 urging the addition of cancer warning labels on alcoholic drinks. This advisory is based on research linking alcohol to nearly one million preventable cancer cases in the United States over the last decade.
This warning would be added alongside existing labels highlighting the dangers of drinking while pregnant and driving under the influence. The federal government has required these labels since 1989, following Congress’ approval of the Alcohol Beverage Labeling Act of 1988.
Health and physical education teacher Mrs. Decker said she supports Murthy’s proposal for the additional warning label.
“Any product, including alcohol, that could be a carcinogen should contain a warning,” Decker said.
She said people should take risks associated with alcohol consumption more seriously.
“Many people think alcohol is only mildly harmful, but the truth is that alcohol consumption has the potential to be extremely harmful and even deadly,” Decker said.
Senior Ariana Feliciano also said she supports the proposal.
“People may know the risks but not be able to fully process it, so maybe seeing a visual warning about something like cancer can serve as a wake-up call,” Feliciano said.
She said in addition to adding warning labels, educators should prioritize lessons about the dangers of alcohol consumption.
“Any product, including alcohol, that could be a carcinogen should contain a warning.”
“It should be taken more seriously when taught in high school so that [teachers] can convey the real severity of it and not tone it down… like when we were younger,” Feliciano said.
She said the warning labels could combat the way alcohol is often depicted on social media.
“Someone who’s easily influenced may see people on social media consuming alcohol and might want to do it too, so that they may be deemed as cool,” Feliciano said.
Chemistry teacher and Medical Club advisor Mr. DeVito said he is skeptical about the effectiveness of warning labels on alcohol.
“I don’t think it will change anything at all. If [people] want to [drink alcohol], they’ll do it regardless,” DeVito said.
He said the dangers of alcohol consumption extend beyond cancer risks.
“You get out of your mind quickly when drinking alcohol where you black out and don’t remember what you did,” DeVito said. “People do incredible things in this state. That is the danger.”
He said the government set out to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol through the 18th Amendment, which was ratified in 1919 and repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
“[Congress] tried to make it illegal, which didn’t work. We also tried to make it [so] that kids can’t get a hold of it, and that also doesn’t always work, so what else could we do? I think we do a pretty good job at spreading awareness,” said DeVito.
