Experts Call for Cancer Warning Labels on Alcohol Bottles to Reduce Cancer in India

New Delhi: A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health recommends implementing tobacco-style cancer warning labels on alcohol bottles as a crucial step to reduce the increasing burden of alcohol-related cancers in India. The research emphasizes the importance of strong, evidence-based warning labels, building on the success of tobacco warnings in the country.

Alcohol is a known carcinogen linked to several cancers, including liver, breast, and colon cancers. However, public awareness about these risks remains limited. Lead author Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, said, “Cancer warning labels on alcohol bottles are a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can raise awareness, influence consumption habits, and prevent long-term health harm.”

With India’s alcohol market growing rapidly and having the largest adolescent population globally, experts stress the urgency of adopting such measures. Dr. Shankar added, “With India having one of the fastest-growing alcohol markets and the largest adolescent population globally, adopting such preventive measures is not just necessary but urgent to protect our youth and reduce the nation’s growing burden of alcohol-related cancers.”

Data shows a sharp rise in cancer cases in India, with a 36 percent increase in incidence from 1.01 million in 2012 to 1.38 million in 2022. According to GLOBOCAN 2022, India recorded about 1.41 million new cancer cases, with a five-year prevalence of 3.25 million and total cancer deaths of over 916,000. The alcohol-attributable fraction of cancer in India is estimated at 4.7 percent.

“Alcohol consumption in India is rising at an alarming pace, particularly among adolescents and young adults, making it a silent driver of preventable cancers,” Dr. Shankar said. “Evidence now confirms there is no safe level of alcohol use when it comes to cancer risk, with links to cancers of the colon, breast, liver, oral cavity, and more.”

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman of the Scientific Committee at IMA Cochin, highlighted the health and economic impacts. “Among preventable diseases and deaths, alcohol-related conditions rank high. It raises the risk of many types of cancer and also liver cirrhosis all of which are expensive and cumbersome to treat,” he said.

Dr. Jayadevan also criticized the glamorization of alcohol use in Indian movies. “Unfortunately, our movie culture glorifies alcohol use, with younger viewers wanting to emulate movie characters despite statutory warnings. There is also rampant misinformation circulating on social media claiming the health benefits of alcohol, almost all of which have been proven wrong. Still, many people wrongly believe it is good for the heart. Therefore, it is important to include clear health-related labels.”

Alcohol has been linked to more than 20 types of cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, foodpipe, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, breast, and prostate. Chronic alcohol use also weakens the immune system’s ability to fight cancerous cells.

Dr. Shankar concluded, “India successfully demonstrated the power of pictorial warnings on tobacco in shifting behaviors and saving lives. It is time we apply the same public health tool to alcohol. With rising alcohol use, especially among youth, it’s time to act proactively to prevent avoidable cancers and save lives.”

(With inputs from IANS)