Alcohol-related cancer deaths in the United States have more than doubled over the past three decades, according to new research that also links even moderate drinking to increased cancer risk. The study, led by researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, found that annual cancer deaths attributed to alcohol climbed from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023.
The findings, published in August in The Lancet Regional Health, draw on more than three decades of Global Burden of Disease data. The analysis shows that the health consequences of alcohol consumption extend far beyond liver cancer, which has historically been the focus of public health messaging around drinking. The researchers emphasize that alcohol is a contributing factor across multiple cancer types, and that even one drink per day could raise a person's risk of developing the disease.
The study's authors point to a need for updated public health guidance that reflects the full scope of alcohol-related cancer risk. While liver cancer remains a well-known consequence of heavy drinking, the new data suggest that cancers of other organs, including those of the breast, colon, and esophagus, are also significantly associated with alcohol consumption. The researchers argue that these broader risks are often underestimated by both the public and healthcare providers.
The doubling of alcohol-related cancer deaths over the study period occurred even as overall awareness of cancer risk factors has grown. The researchers note that patterns of alcohol consumption in the US have shifted over the decades, with changes in drinking frequency and volume potentially contributing to the rising death toll. They also highlight that the increase cannot be explained solely by population growth, as the rate of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths per capita has also risen.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking alcohol to cancer, a connection that has prompted some countries to revise their dietary guidelines and consider warning labels on alcoholic beverages. In the US, the Surgeon General has previously called for greater awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer, and the new data reinforce those concerns. The researchers suggest that clinicians should routinely discuss alcohol use with patients as part of cancer prevention efforts.
One of the key takeaways from the study is that there is no completely safe level of drinking when it comes to cancer risk. Even low to moderate consumption, defined as one drink per day or less, was associated with measurable increases in risk for certain cancers. This finding challenges the notion that moderate drinking is harmless or even beneficial, a belief that has persisted in popular culture despite accumulating scientific evidence to the contrary.
The researchers call for stronger public health interventions, including policies that reduce alcohol availability and affordability, as well as educational campaigns that clearly communicate the cancer risks associated with drinking. They also emphasize the importance of early detection and screening for cancers linked to alcohol use, particularly among populations with higher rates of consumption.
The study's publication in a peer-reviewed journal adds weight to its conclusions, which are based on a comprehensive dataset that tracks disease burden across countries and over time. The Global Burden of Disease study is widely regarded as the most complete observational epidemiological dataset in the world, making the findings particularly robust. The researchers hope that the new evidence will spur action at both the individual and policy levels to curb the rising toll of alcohol-related cancer deaths.
