DHHS

Alcohol use is the third leading preventable cause of cancer

January 3, 2025

Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity. Its use results in nearly 1 million preventable cancer cases over 10 years in the U.S. While 83% of the estimated 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths per year occur at levels above current U.S. Dietary Guidelines (2 drinks daily for men, 1 drink daily for women), the remaining 17% occur at levels within those recommended limits.

• Cancer types. Evidence demonstrates a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for 7+ cancer types, including breast cancer in women, colorectal, esophageal, hepatic, oral cavity, pharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers. The largest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the U.S. is for breast cancer in women, representing an estimated 16.4% of the approximately 270,000 total breast cancer cases seen in 2019.
• Dose dependence. The more alcohol consumed, the greater the cancer risk. For certain cancers such as breast, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers, evidence shows that this risk may start to increase around one or fewer drinks per day.
• Mechanisms. Alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a metabolite that causes cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it. It also generates reactive oxygen species, which increase inflammation and can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids through oxidation. Alcohol alters hormone levels (including estrogen). Carcinogens from various sources—especially tobacco smoke particles—dissolve in alcohol, increasing their absorption, which may increase risks for oropharyngeal cancers.
• Future research is needed to determine how specific drinking patterns (e.g., binge vs. non-binge drinking) may affect cancer risk, as well as how drinking at specific ages affects risks.

Source:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, January 3). Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory. https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/alcohol-cancer/index.html