Alcohol and the Risk of Cancer

Source: "Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory," 2025.

"This advisory highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year."

"Alcohol use is very common—in 2019-2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported they consumed one or more drinks per week..."

"The direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time. This body of scientific evidence demonstrates a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx). The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer. For certain cancers, like breast, mouth, and throat cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day."

"Globally, 741,300 cancer cases were related to alcohol consumption in 2020; 185,100 of those cases were related to consumption of approximately two drinks daily or fewer..."

"Extensive research has demonstrated specific biological mechanisms by which alcohol causes cancer as well. For example, multiple studies have shown that giving rats and mice drinking water with ethanol (the same type of pure alcohol in alcohol-containing beverages) or its primary metabolic breakdown product, acetaldehyde, results in increased tumor numbers at multiple places in the body. At high levels such as those that occur with consumption of alcohol, acetaldehyde is highly toxic and cancer-causing. Further, the data in humans on alcohol and health show a strong association between drinking alcohol and increased cancer risk, regardless of the type of alcohol (e.g., beer, wine, and spirits)."

"There is extensive evidence from biological studies that ethanol (the type of pure alcohol found in all alcohol-containing beverages) causes cancer in at least four distinct ways: First, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde in the body. Acetaldehyde is a metabolite that causes cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin to grow uncontrollably and create a cancerous tumor. Second, alcohol generates reactive oxygen species, which increase inflammation and can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the body through a process called oxidation. Third, alcohol alters hormone levels (including estrogen), which can play a role in the development of breast cancer. Fourth, carcinogens from other sources, especially particles of tobacco smoke, can dissolve in alcohol, making it easier for them to be absorbed into the body, increasing the risk for mouth and throat cancers."

"The amount of alcohol a person drinks affects their risk of cancer. An important factor is the overall amount of alcohol consumed consistently over time. The risk of cancer increases as the level of consumption increases with higher risk at higher levels of consumption. ... For example, a study of 226,162 individuals reported that the absolute risk of developing any alcohol-related cancer over the lifespan of a woman increases from approximately 16.5% (about 17 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink per week, to 19.0% (19 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume one drink daily on average to approximately 21.8% (about 22 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume two drinks daily on average. ... Over the lifespan of a man, the absolute risk of developing any alcohol-related cancer increases from approximately 10.0% (about 10 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink per week to about 11.4% (about 11 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume one drink daily on average to approximately 13.1% (about 13 out of every 100 individuals) for those who consume two drinks daily on average."

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).