University Debate: HLTH 355 - Alcohol Labeling and Cancer Risk Debate

This discussion board post presents a student's reflection on the HLTH 355 debate concerning the implementation of warning labels on alcohol products sold in Ontario, Canada, due to the growing concern of alcohol-related cancer cases. The reflection analyzes the arguments for and against the introduction of these labels, considering the evidence linking alcohol consumption to various cancers and the potential impact of health communications, such as warning labels, on consumer behavior. It explores the role of the health belief model in influencing behavior change, the importance of providing consumers with information to make informed decisions, and the need for further research to establish a clearer relationship between alcohol use and cancer. The post also acknowledges the counterarguments related to the lack of conclusive evidence and the uncertain effectiveness of warning labels in reducing cancer incidence. The student integrates the viewpoints raised in the debate, the evidence presented, and the broader implications for public health policies and consumer behavior.

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Healthcare
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Healthcare
The debate on whether to place labels on alcohol products in many states has been a hot
debate that has elicited many reactions. Alcohol sold need to be labeled with warnings because
of the growing epidemic of cancer that has continued to cause many deaths across the world,
including Ontario, Canada. There is growing evidence that alcohol products cause cancer and
there is the need to place warning labels to reduce cases of consumption, hence cancer among the
population. The labels will served to advice consumers regarding safe consumption levels, as
well as remind drinkers that alcohol may cause cancer (Ishiguro, Sasazuki & Inoue, 2009). The
labels will reduce cases of cancer in Ontario. The debate will be on introduction of warning
labels on alcohol sold in Ontario.
The growing cases of cancer cases in Ontario have been linked to lifestyle factors that
include use of beverages, such as alcohol that result in cancer. Different sociological theoretical
perspectives have been taken into consideration in understanding the influence of health
communications, including warning labels. Accordingly, the health belief model is one such
perspective. Research into the health belief model indicates that giving information about the
risks of a particular behavior may not be sufficient to result in behavior change. The increasing
need for warning labels mirrors an increasing evidence base that relates to the association
between alcohol use and variety of cancers. This call for mandatory use of warning labels on
alcohol sold to consumers. In 2013, the mostly widespread cancers in Ontario for males were
prostrate (20 percent), lung (13 percent) and colorectal (12 percent), while for women, incidence
rates for all cancers increased considerably by 0.4 percent annually from 1981to 2013 (Cho,
2006). These statistics demonstrate the need for labeling alcohol products with warnings to

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reduce cases of cancer that have been growing among the Ontario population. Despite the
established associations between cancer and alcohol consumption, the alcohol industry continues
to promote alcohol as harmful. Therefore, warning labels will be instrumental in providing
information on dangers of alcohol towards increasing incidence of cancer (Eliott & Miller,
2014).
In free market economy, users have access to data they need to make informed decisions.
This has been promoted by system thinking that reinforces the importance of controls that is
affected by the different systems of the society. The system thinking is important in modifying
behaviors of individuals towards taking messages on labels on alcohol. This is true for
consumers in Ontario where they should access information on products such as alcohol that
they purchase. Hence, warning labels in Ontario should be introduced in alcohol products to
provide information to consumers in the dangers of cancer linked to alcohol consumption. In
many instances, many consumers are not conscious of the dangers linked to alcohol use in
general; hence, placing labels in alcohol sold in Ontario will provide necessary information on
risks of cancer on the users (Wilkinson & Room, 2009).
Despite the need to put warning labels on alcohol sold in Ontario, there is minimal
research on the relationship between alcohol and cancer diseases. This implies that warning
labels should not be put in alcohol sold to consumers since it have little consequence in reducing
cancer incidences in Ontario. Provided the lack of evidence in many studies in relation to cancer
warning messages; hence, it is not recognized whether alcohol use raises the danger of cancer. In
addition, few researches have studied the prospective for cancer warning messages on alcohol to
promote drinkers’ comprehending the association amid alcohol use plus cancer threat. Few

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studies has showed that warning messages on alcohol products referred to other diseases, such as
diabetes that implies that the actual effectiveness of these messages cannot be ascertained.
Therefore, it should be argued that warning labels on alcohol products should not be introduced
in Ontario since its effectiveness is still uncertain (cancer (Ishiguro et al., 2009).
In conclusion, this debate has mixed findings and there is the need for further research on
this great topic. There are mixed studies that have demonstrated the association between alcohol
use and cancer. Thus, many studies have not established this relationship and there is the need
for further research on the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer by researchers,
non-governmental organizations, industry players, and the government should join efforts to
undertake further research.

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References
Cho, C. (2006). Alcohol, tobacco and cancer: 11 tables. Basel ; Freiburg [Breisgau] Paris
London New York Bangalore Bangkok Singapore Tokyo Sydney : Karger.
Eliott, J.A. & Miller, E.R. (2014). Alcohol and cancer: the urgent need for a new message. Med J
Aust. 200(2):71–72.
Ishiguro, S., Sasazuki, S. & Inoue, M. (2009). Effect of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking
and flushing response on esophageal cancer risk: a population based cohort study (JPHC
study). Cancer Lett. 275(5):240–6.
Wilkinson, C. & Room, R. (2009). Warnings on alcohol containers and advertisements:
international experience and evidence on effects. Drug Alcohol Rev. 28:426–435.