A new study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has revealed a surprising gap in public knowledge: more than half of American adults don’t know that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer.
Despite years of scientific evidence, this important health message hasn’t reached many people in the U.S.
The study was published in JAMA Oncology and looked at data from nearly 7,000 adults across the country. The researchers found that only 37% of people correctly said that drinking alcohol raises the risk of getting cancer.
Over half—about 53%—said they didn’t know whether alcohol was linked to cancer. Even more concerning, 1% of people actually believed that drinking alcohol could reduce cancer risk.
One of the most surprising findings was that people who drink alcohol were more likely to believe that drinking does not affect cancer risk. This is concerning because beliefs influence behavior. If people don’t believe that alcohol increases cancer risk, they’re less likely to cut back or avoid it. This could lead to more preventable cancer cases and deaths in the future.
Dr. Sanjay Shete, the lead author of the study, emphasized how important it is to correct these false beliefs. “We know beliefs guide behavior. If people don’t understand that alcohol raises their cancer risk, they may not see a reason to change their drinking habits,” he said. Helping people understand this link could be a key step in reducing alcohol-related cancers.
So why do so many people still not know about the risks of alcohol? The study found some patterns. People who smoked cigarettes, had lower levels of education, or didn’t believe that cancer could be prevented were more likely to say they didn’t know about alcohol’s role in cancer.
Black individuals were also more likely to be unaware of the link, showing the need for more targeted education and outreach.
The science is clear: alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization. That’s the same category as tobacco and asbestos. Drinking alcohol has been linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, mouth, and colon cancers.
The National Institutes of Health reports that about 5.5% of all new cancer cases and 5.8% of cancer deaths are caused by alcohol consumption.
To better understand public beliefs, researchers used data from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey.
Participants were asked how they thought alcohol affected cancer risk, with choices including “decreases the risk,” “no effect,” “increases the risk,” or “don’t know.” The average age of respondents was 48. About half were women, and the group was racially and ethnically diverse.
The findings show a clear need for better public health education. Many people don’t realize that drinking alcohol—even in moderate amounts—can increase their risk of cancer. Public health campaigns, doctor-patient conversations, and national guidelines can all help raise awareness and encourage healthier choices.
In the future, better communication and outreach may help close this gap in knowledge and save lives. Understanding the risks of alcohol is an important step toward making informed health decisions and preventing cancer.
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The study is published in JAMA Oncology.
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