Most people know that smoking greatly increases the risk of cancer, but far fewer realize that drinking alcohol can also contribute to the disease.
Research over many years has shown a clear connection between alcohol and several types of cancer. According to a recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General, alcohol is now the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco use and obesity.
Even with this evidence, many people remain unaware of the danger. A 2024 survey by the American Association for Cancer Research found that only about half of Americans knew that alcohol can raise cancer risk. This misunderstanding may prevent people from making informed choices about their health.
Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to at least six types of cancer. These include cancers of the breast, bowel, liver, esophagus, stomach, and cancers of the mouth, throat, and other parts of the head and neck. In general, the more alcohol a person drinks over time, the greater the risk becomes.
For many years, some people believed that drinking a small amount of wine each day was good for health. More recent research has challenged this idea, showing that even low levels of alcohol can increase cancer risk. Cancer experts now encourage people to drink as little alcohol as possible, and those who do not drink are advised not to start for health reasons.
When alcohol is broken down in the body, it forms a chemical called acetaldehyde. This substance can damage DNA, the genetic material inside cells. If the body cannot repair this damage properly, abnormal cells may develop and eventually become cancer.
Alcohol may also increase cancer risk in several other ways. It can lower the body’s supply of folate, a vitamin needed for healthy DNA repair. It can also raise estrogen levels, which may increase the risk of some breast cancers, and it provides extra calories that can contribute to weight gain, another well-known cancer risk factor.
Health experts define one standard drink as about 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits. Current guidance suggests that women should have no more than one standard drink a day and men no more than two. However, researchers emphasize that less alcohol is better when it comes to reducing cancer risk.
The good news is that cutting back on alcohol can make a difference. The American Association for Cancer Research reports that reducing alcohol intake can lower the overall risk of cancer as well as cancers directly linked to alcohol. The sooner healthy changes are made, the greater the potential benefit over time.
Reducing alcohol is only one part of cancer prevention. Avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, protecting the skin from excessive sunlight, receiving recommended vaccines, and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals can all help lower cancer risk.
Although no single lifestyle choice can completely prevent cancer, small changes made over many years can have a powerful effect. Understanding the link between alcohol and cancer allows people to make informed decisions that support better long-term health and may reduce their chances of developing this serious disease.
If you care about alcoholism, please read studies that your age may decide whether alcohol is good or bad for you, and people over 40 need to prevent dangerous alcohol/drug interactions.
For more information about alcohol, please see recent studies about moderate alcohol drinking linked to high blood pressure, and results showing this drug combo shows promise for treating alcoholism.
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