In a new study, researchers found 4% of newly diagnosed cancer cases in 2020 in the world may be linked to drinking alcohol.
They estimated that men accounted for 77% (568,700 cases) of alcohol-associated new cancer cases, compared with women, who accounted for 23% of new cancer cases (172,600).
Cancers of the oesophagus, liver, and breast accounted for the largest number of cases.
These cancers have well-established causal links to alcohol drinking, and the estimates of the direct associations with alcohol in the new study are the first of their kind for 2020.
Alcohol consumption has been shown to cause DNA damage through increased production of harmful chemicals in the body, and affect hormone production, which can contribute to cancer development.
Alcohol can also worsen the cancer-causing effects of other substances, such as tobacco.
The team says people urgently need to raise awareness about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.
Public health strategies, such as reduced alcohol availability, labeling alcohol products with a health warning, and marketing bans could reduce rates of alcohol-driven cancer.
Tax and pricing policies that have led to decreased alcohol intake in Europe, including increased excise taxes and minimum unit pricing, could also be implemented in other world regions.
In the study, moderate drinking was classed as intake of 0·1 to 20 grams per day, the equivalent of up to two alcoholic drinks; risky drinking as 20 to 60 g per day, between two and six alcoholic drinks per day; and heavy drinking as more than 60 g per day, more than six alcoholic drinks per day.
Globally, an estimated 4% (741,300) of all new cases of cancer in 2020 were linked to alcohol consumption.
Cancers of the oesophagus (189,700 cases), liver (154,700 cases), and breast (98,300 cases) accounted for the largest number of new cases, followed by colorectal cancers and cancers of the mouth and throat.
Risky drinking and heavy drinking led to the largest proportion of cancer cases at 39% (291,800 cases) and 47% (346,400 cases) respectively.
However, moderate drinking was also found to be problematic, with estimates that this level of drinking accounted for 14% (103,100 cases) of the total of alcohol-caused cases.
At a country level, the proportions of cancer cases associated with alcohol were estimated to be highest in Mongolia (10%, 560 cases) and lowest in Kuwait (estimated at 0%, less than 5 cases).
The UK had an estimated 4% of cancer cases linked to alcohol (16,800), with the United States at 3% (52,700), Brazil at 4% (20,500 cases), India at 5% (62,100), China 6% (282,300), Germany 4% (21,500 cases) and France at 5%.
This study highlights the contribution of even relatively low levels of drinking to rates of cancer, which is concerning, but also suggests that small changes to public drinking behavior could positively impact future cancer rates.
If you care about alcohol and your health, please read studies about why some people have problems with alcohol and findings of ‘low risk’ alcohol drinking still can harm your health.
For more information about alcohol and wellness, please see recent studies about your age may decide whether alcohol is good or bad for you and results showing that people over 40 need to prevent dangerous alcohol/drug interactions.
The study is published in The Lancet Oncology. One author of the study is Ms Harriet Rumgay.
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