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Rep. Wendy Thomas seeks alcohol‑cancer warning signs in retail and licensed venues
Summary
HB 11 74 would require visible signage at establishments selling alcohol to warn that alcohol increases the risk of cancer and causes birth defects in pregnancy; hospitality groups warned against added regulatory burdens and costs, while the sponsor cited international and state precedents.
Representative Wendy Thomas told the committee HB 11 74 would mandate a prominent warning in all establishments that sell alcohol — on‑ and off‑premise licensees and state liquor stores — noting international precedents (e.g., California Proposition 65) and a recent Alaska law requiring similar signage.
Thomas cited International Agency for Research on Cancer findings and Surgeon General guidance linking alcohol to several cancers, including breast cancer, and said the bill aims to inform consumers in the retail environment. Industry representatives from the Lodging and Restaurant Association said required additional signage risks 'wallpapering' small businesses and asked that any rollout include state‑supplied templates or a public information campaign rather than burdensome new costs. The Liquor Enforcement division estimated printing and rollout costs and said signage is already in place for pregnancy warnings but not explicitly for cancer; enforcement would fold into existing inspection checklists.
Committee members questioned whether current liquor‑store monitors already provide health content and whether a revised single sign could combine pregnancy and cancer warnings; sponsor said she did not intend to remove existing pregnancy warnings but to add cancer information.
