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New Delhi, July 29 – Health experts are urging the Indian government to introduce tobacco-style warning labels on alcohol bottles as part of efforts to curb the growing cancer burden in the country. A recent paper published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health highlights the urgent need for strong, evidence-based warning labels on alcohol products, drawing on the country’s demonstrable success with similar warnings on tobacco.
Alcohol, now established as a carcinogen, is known to increase the risk of various cancers, including liver, breast, and colon. However, public awareness surrounding these health risks remains alarmingly low.
“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,” said Dr. Abhishek Shankar, lead author and Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. According to Dr. Shankar, India faces increasing challenges as it hosts one of the fastest-growing alcohol markets and has the world’s largest adolescent population. “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,” he added.
Recent data revealed that cancer cases in India have surged by 36% over a ten-year period (2012 to 2022), rising from 1.01 million to 1.38 million reported cases. Experts believe that specific health warnings on alcohol products, similar to those found on tobacco, could play a pivotal role in reversing this trend.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on expert opinions and published research as of July 29, 2025. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult healthcare professionals for guidance on cancer prevention and alcohol consumption.
