MW Alcohol stocks fall across the board after U.S. Surgeon General advisory on cancer risk

By Ciara Linnane

Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, said Dr. Vivek Murthy

The stocks of alcohol makers and distributors fell across the board early Friday, after the U.S. Surgeon General released a new advisory warning of the link between booze and cancer risk.

Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, said Dr. Vivek Murthy, yet many Americans are unaware of the risks.

"Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States - greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. - yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk," said Murthy.

A link between consuming alcohol and cancer risk has been determined for at least seven types of cancer, namely breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx), said Murthy. That's regardless of the type of alcohol consumed, whether beer, wine or spirits.

About 16.4% of breast cancer cases a year are due to alcohol consumption.

The advisory is calling for a number of changes, including a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to account for cancer risk. It's also calling on individuals to be aware of the relationship between the two when considering how much to drink.

"Additionally, public health professionals and community groups should highlight alcohol consumption as a leading modifiable cancer risk factor and strengthen and expand education efforts to increase general awareness, and healthcare providers should inform patients in clinical settings about this link and promote the use of alcohol screening and treatment referrals as needed," wrote Murthy.

Brown-Forman Corp. $(BF.B)$, parent to Jack Daniel's whiskey, was down 1.4% premarket. Constellation Brands Inc. $(STZ)$, distributor of Modelo and Corona beers, as well as Casa Noble tequila and Mondavi wines, was down 1.2%.

Molson Coors Beverage Co. $(TAP)$ was down 1.2% and Anheuser-Busch InBev $(BUD)$ was down 2%. Boston Beer Co. Inc., $(SAM)$ brewer of Sam Adams beer, was down 0.8%.

-Ciara Linnane

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January 03, 2025 08:29 ET (13:29 GMT)

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