A new national survey has revealed a surprising gap in public health knowledge: many Americans don’t realize that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing cancer. Despite strong evidence and health guidelines warning about this link, less than half of U.S. adults are aware of the danger.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking less—or not at all—can help lower your risk of cancer. Yet, most Americans haven’t made this connection.
The latest data come from a survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), which has been tracking health awareness since 2021. The survey, carried out in September 2024, included over 1,700 adults across the country.
Only 40% of participants correctly said that regular alcohol use increases cancer risk. Another 40% were unsure, and 20% believed alcohol either has no impact or actually reduces the risk of cancer—both of which are incorrect.
This confusion shows just how widespread the misunderstanding is, even as scientific studies continue to confirm the link between alcohol and cancer.
Research has consistently shown that alcohol use can lead to several types of cancer, including breast, liver, colon, and mouth cancers.
Systematic reviews and large-scale studies have found that drinking alcohol—especially in large amounts—raises the risk of dying from cancer and other causes. The risk increases the more you drink, but even small amounts may have harmful effects over time.
Still, alcohol is a regular part of life for many Americans. The CDC reports that over half of U.S. adults drink, with 17% engaging in binge drinking and 6% classified as heavy drinkers. With alcohol so widely accepted—and often glamorized in ads and entertainment—it’s easy to see why many people may not be fully aware of its health risks.
Patrick E. Jamieson, who directs the Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute, says the challenge is breaking through decades of alcohol advertising and positive media portrayals. These images often paint alcohol as fun, relaxing, or even sophisticated, which can drown out the quieter warnings from public health campaigns.
The APPC survey is part of a long-running project to measure what the public knows about important health issues. In this 21st wave of their survey, conducted from September 13 to 30, researchers added 360 new participants to ensure the results reflected the U.S. population. The survey has a margin of error of about ±3.5 percentage points.
The takeaway is clear: more needs to be done to raise awareness about the cancer risks of alcohol. When people don’t know about these dangers, they may not take steps to protect their health. Public health experts say that sharing accurate, easy-to-understand information is key to helping people make smarter decisions.
Reducing or avoiding alcohol is one of the most effective ways to lower your cancer risk. As new research continues to underline this point, it’s crucial that public messaging catches up—and reaches the millions of Americans who still may not know the truth.
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