TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is pushing for a cancer risk warning label on alcohol.

The recommendation comes as part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report released Friday showing a direct link between drinking and at least seven types of cancer.

In the U.S., pursuant to 27 U.S.C. 215, every alcoholic beverage sold must currently have the following health warning label:

“GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.”

This statement has remained unchanged since its inception in 1988.

But now, there could be an additional warning on the way.

Jenn M said, her relationship with alcohol started at just 11 years old.

After that, M said she drank socially for years.

“Then it got to a point where it was out of control,” she said “It cost me everything multiple times, including my freedom at times, including my children at times.”

Alcohol can have these adverse effects, and that’s common knowledge, but the U.S. Surgeon General said it’s not as common knowledge that there is a direct link between alcohol and cancer.

The report detailed that over half of Americans are unaware alcohol consumption increases cancer risk.

In an effort to change that, Murthy is pushing for a new warning label.

He said it could make Americans more aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.

Orlando Health Medical Oncologist Dr. Samina Reza said its important people know the risks.

“Even in moderation, alcohol is still causing damage to your cells,” she explained. “It’s still causing damage to your DNA, which is how the cells divide and know when to stop and when to go forward.”

“If you take that message away from the cell, it’s going to keep dividing,” Dr. Reza continued. “That’s what cancers are, your cells just keep dividing.”

The next question is, “How much is too much?”

“I would tell my patients to quit drinking,” Dr. Reza explained. “I don’t know good advice as to what would be a good amount to drink, so refraining from alcohol would be my advice to my patients.”

Dominic Grefsrud is a community liaison for Creek Side Recovery Group, an addiction and mental health provider with facilities in Georgia and Florida like the Tampa Bay Recovery Center in St. Petersburg.

News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked Grefsrud, “How does someone know they have a problem?”

“Start looking at it basically like a checklist,” he responded. “Is this impacting my personal relationships? Check. There’s an issue. Am I starting to self-isolate? Check. There’s an issue. Is my job in jeopardy? Check. There’s an issue. Am I no longer drinking for fun, but I’m drinking because I have to? Check. There’s an issue.”

Rogers asked, “For someone struggling with alcohol right now, what’s the first step?”

“The first step is admitting you are powerless to this and admitting that you have a problem,” Grefsrud responded. “The second step is reaching out to a community liaison like myself, a treatment program and getting help.”

M said she hit rock bottom, but that wasn’t the end of her story.

And she said, it doesn’t have to be the end to yours either.

“One of the biggest struggles is that it is so socially acceptable and having to learn how to make that surrender and be confident in the surrender,” she said. “Find like-minded peers, you know the support groups that are out there are awesome.”

“Find peers that can help you feel comfortable when you go out bowling and feel comfortable when you go out to parties and stuff like that not having to drink,” she continued.

If you need help, these are a few local resources:

• Tampa Recovery Center
• Gulf Coast Recovery Center
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration