Alcohol & Cancer
The Link Between Alcohol & Cancer:
The everyday exposure many people don't know is a carcinogen
So why don't more people know about it?
Alcoholic beverages are classified as carcinogenic to humans. The cancer risk comes primarily from ethanol, so the concern applies to beer, wine and liquor, not just one particular type of alcoholic drink. Alcohol consumption has an established causal relationship with at least seven cancers: Mouth • Throat • Voice Box • Esophagus • Liver • Breast • Colon & Rectum Cancer risk generally increases as alcohol consumption increases. Researchers have not established a level of alcohol consumption at which cancer risk is known to be zero. That does not mean one drink will cause cancer. It means risk changes with exposure rather than suddenly beginning at a particular number of drinks.
How Does Alcohol Contribute to Cancer? When the body metabolizes ethanol, it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance capable of damaging DNA and proteins. Alcohol may also contribute to cancer through oxidative damage, changes in nutrient metabolism and increased estrogen levels. It can also increase the absorption of carcinogens from tobacco, making the combination of alcohol + tobacco particularly concerning for several cancers of the mouth and throat. How Much Does Consumption Matter? Estimated lifetime risk of developing one of the cancers associated with alcohol: WOMEN Less than 1 drink/week: 17 in 100 1 drink/day: 19 in 100 2 drinks/day: 22 in 100 MEN Less than 1 drink/week: 10 in 100 1 drink/day: 11 in 100 2 drinks/day: 13 in 100 What that means: In the model used for these estimates, going from less than one drink per week to two drinks per day corresponded to approximately 5 additional women and 3 additional men per 100 developing an alcohol-related cancer during their lifetimes. These are modeled lifetime-risk estimates derived from Australian population data and recalculated using U.S. standard-drink definitions. They are not predictions of an individual's cancer risk.
What About Red Wine and Heart Health? Red wine doesn't receive an exemption from alcohol-related cancer risk. It contains ethanol too. Research has historically associated moderate alcohol consumption with some favorable cardiovascular outcomes, but whether alcohol itself causes those benefits remains scientifically debated. Differences in diet, income, smoking, exercise, health status and other characteristics can complicate comparisons between drinkers and nondrinkers. Current evidence does not provide a reason for someone who doesn't drink to start drinking for heart health. Something You Won't Find on the Bottle Despite the established cancer relationship, the federally required U.S. alcohol warning still does not specifically mention cancer. The U.S. Surgeon General has recommended changing alcohol warning labels to include cancer risk. That matters because public awareness remains surprisingly low: fewer than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a cancer risk factor.
Can Reducing Alcohol Help? Yes. Althouth alcohol & cancer are closely linked, evidence indicates that reducing or stopping alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of certain alcohol-related cancers, although risk reduction can take time. The practical takeaway is straightforward: Less alcohol means less alcohol-related cancer risk. Maria Approved It Bottom Line KNOWN CARCINOGEN: Yes EVERYDAY EXPOSURE: Common DOES AMOUNT MATTER?: Yes ZERO-RISK CANCER THRESHOLD ESTABLISHED?: No CAN EXPOSURE BE REDUCED?: Yes Alcohol doesn't guarantee cancer, and a single drink isn't equivalent to years of heavy consumption. But alcohol's ability to cause cancer is scientifically established, and even relatively low consumption can increase the risk of some cancers. Want the evidence behind the numbers? Read our full investigation into alcohol and cancer, including the seven established cancers, breast-cancer findings, the red-wine and heart-health debate, U.S. alcohol-labeling requirements, public awareness, and the research behind the risk estimates.