Following the New Year’s festivities and countless hangovers, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy suggested placing cancer warnings on bottles of wine, beer cans, and other alcoholic beverages.

I wholeheartedly supported his recommendation. In his advisory dated January 3, Murthy stated, “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States.”

Despite the powerful alcohol lobby and upcoming government changes, his proposal for cancer labeling might not come to fruition. However, as a therapist with over 40 years of experience helping those with alcohol dependencies and someone personally affected by alcohol-related cancers in my family, I believe this declaration by Murthy provides an opportunity for us to end our collective ignorance with the notion of “Oh, I never knew.”

We know the truth, and I certainly do, based on lessons learned from both professional interactions and my personal experiences in a battle that has been ongoing since Prohibition a century ago.

Alcohol is harmful, and the connection with cancer is undeniable. Among my five siblings, two brothers lost their lives to pancreatic cancer after battling severe alcoholism. My youngest brother, once a college athlete, tragically passed just one month after turning 40, leaving behind a wife and four children.

My oldest brother struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the Vietnam War and ultimately succumbed to the same disease. His death left his wife, three children, and three grandchildren mourning the loss of a beloved family member. Additionally, five uncles, one grandfather, and numerous cousins in my family have also died from various cancers linked to heavy drinking.

I have witnessed the destructive impact of alcohol-related cancers in both my family and my patients

My experiences are echoed in families throughout America, and I have seen the reality firsthand.

In 1986, while pursuing my master’s degree, I began my first job as a counselor at the Bedford Stuyvesant Sobering Up Station located at 944 Bedford Ave. In addition to preparing meals and doing laundry, I received inebriated individuals left on the doorstep by law enforcement, not deemed suitable for jail. We provided them a place to sleep, eat, and shower, after which a nurse would check for any medical issues. I then referred some for brief detox stays in the hospital and others for longer-term treatment in rehab centers or shelters.

The majority of our clients were men aged 30 to 60. One 29-year-old veteran refused treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, opting instead to sleep rough and panhandle on Court Street in downtown Brooklyn. He endured severe pain from pancreatitis, which eventually led to pancreatic cancer. A regular at our station, he typically stayed just one night before heading out for more alcohol. One day, he stopped coming, and the police reported they hadn’t seen him anywhere.

Our culture celebrates men who can drink heavily, while women often avoid seeking help for alcohol addiction due to associated stigma. During Christmas in 1986, my first female client at the Sobering Up Station arrived after suffering for many years. Sadly, it was too late for her. She passed away from stomach cancer at the age of 39, leaving behind two lovely daughters. Financially unprepared, her family struggled to pay for her funeral; during the ceremony, the directors had to close her coffin due to unpaid costs, leading us to take up a collection to cover the expenses. Her grieving elderly mother and her two daughters were overwhelmed with sorrow and fear.

Most clients at the station sought alcohol within two days of arriving. Detoxing from alcohol can be dangerous, and going cold turkey is not advised for most heavy drinkers. Our facility lacked adequate transportation and resources to support our clients’ needs. We even had a park bench outside that had an equally poor success rate as the program.

From the mid-1980s, I progressed from that park bench to working on Park Avenue, furthering my education and credentials in addiction treatment. I later held positions at the Kingsboro Addiction Treatment Center in Brooklyn, the inpatient detox unit at Canton/Potsdam Hospital in upstate New York, and Phoenix House on Brooklyn’s Jay Street, among others.

I also worked under the Office of National Drug Control Policy, receiving recognition from Attorney General Janet Reno and the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Helen Fahey.

Alcohol remains America’s most favored drug, often introducing itself before any other substance is used and continuing its presence throughout life. Its legality, affordability, and social acceptance in most spaces make alcohol consumption incredibly difficult to combat. Indeed, the alcohol industry is robust and thriving.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is championing a commendable cause

Alcohol acts as a psychoactive substance that suppresses the central nervous system. Once someone becomes dependent on it, they embark on a chronic, progressive, and frequently fatal voyage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., claiming about 178,000 lives annually. Cancer constitutes a significant portion of these deaths, as highlighted in the surgeon general’s warning.

Murthy’s initiative to confront America’s traditional drug of choice is a worthy endeavor. Should this effort be fully realized, it could tremendously enhance public health and surpass both Prohibition and the “war on drugs” as ineffective strategies.

Regardless of what the future holds, I remain supportive of the surgeon general’s call for public warnings and labeling due to the potential impact it could have, whether overt or subtle, on individuals grappling with alcohol dependency.

On his deathbed, unable to utter words due to stomach and esophageal cancers, my grandfather made a final gesture. He raised his hand to his mouth as if to hold a whiskey glass, then lowered it. He gestured toward his family, wagging his finger to caution: “No, don’t drink.”

Some in my family listened to his warning, but regrettably, not all did.

Edith Langford is an experienced psychotherapist and holds a doctorate specializing in addiction issues. She has recently written about problem gambling for The Guardian and shares her views on significant life matters on Instagram: @DearDrEdie