Cancer warning labels on alcohol may motivate people to drink less, study says

A study published in the *Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs* suggests that updated alcohol warning labels could motivate people to drink less by emphasizing serious health risks, including cancer. The current U.S. labels, unchanged since 1989, warn about drinking during pregnancy or while operating machinery and vaguely mention "health problems," but research shows they are often ignored. Anna Grummon, an assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, led a study testing eight new label designs that specifically addressed cancer, liver disease, dementia, and hypertension. The study involved over 1,000 U.S. adults who read the new labels alongside the current warning. Nearly all participants learned new health risks from the updated labels, and most reported increased motivation to reduce drinking, with cancer warnings being the most effective. However, the study did not measure actual changes in drinking behavior, though prior research suggests stronger warnings can lead to reduced consumption. Johannes Thrul, a substance abuse researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that a Canadian experiment found alcohol sales dropped after introducing cancer warnings, though the study faced industry opposition. The Distilled Spirits Council, a major alcohol industry trade group, stated that any label changes should be based on scientific research and that the industry complies with all regulations. The study aligns with growing calls for stronger health warnings on alcohol, as evidence links drinking to cancer—the third leading preventable cause in the U.S. Grummon’s team is now recruiting participants for a follow-up study to assess whether the labels translate to real-world behavior changes.