Alcohol and Cancer Risk: How Much is Too Much? American Association for Cancer Research AACR

It can also increase blood levels of estrogen, a sex hormone linked to breast cancer, and make the carcinogens found in tobacco smoke easier for the body to absorb. Researchers have explored trends over earlier time periods in previous studies and found similar associations. While alcohol consumption is declining in some areas of the world, such as parts of Europe, it’s on the rise in other areas, including China, India, and many sub-Saharan African nations. The existing evidence shows that there is little difference in cancer risk whether consumption is spread out over several occasions throughout the week or the same amount of alcohol is consumed all at once. Funded projects will involve authentic engagement with one or more community organizations with the aim of promoting equity in cancer prevention by addressing tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use and exposure. The long-term goal is to support tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis policy research studies that will improve health equity and promote cancer prevention.

Lee suggests trying nonalcoholic beer or wine, opting for a mocktail or cocktail with only a splash of alcohol and making several days a week alcohol free. For example, this means that someone who usually has three drinks a week could reduce their cancer risk by limiting themselves to two drinks a week instead. The biggest such wins would likely come from helping heavy drinkers cut back or quit, she added. “It’s pretty clear there are no health benefits from heavy drinking, and there’s lots of risk to health overall,” she said. When the researchers analyzed moderate drinking further, they found that 41,300 of those cases could be attributed to light drinking, or consumption of 10 grams or less per day. To date, no experimental evidence indicates that alcohol by itself can cause cancer—that is, that alcohol can act as a complete carcinogen.

Alcohol and Cancer Risk

Statistically significant means that the observed result would occur by chance under hypothesized conditions less than a specified proportion of the time (usually 5 percent). Statistical analyses generally do not lead to a calculated, accurate result but instead provide an estimate of the result. The 95% CI is the range Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder National Institute of the value under investigation that with a 95-percent likelihood contains the true value.

What Is a Drink?

Many individuals of East Asian descent carry a version of the gene for ADH that codes for a “superactive” form of the enzyme. This superactive ADH enzyme speeds the conversion of alcohol (ethanol) to toxic acetaldehyde. Among people of Japanese descent, those who have this form of ADH have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those with the more common form of ADH (30).

Awareness varies by beverage type

Alarmingly, reports suggest that there has been a nearly 80% increase in early-onset cancer cases worldwide since 1990. The old adage prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely holds weight in this situation,” she added. According to the latest Cancer Progress Report, 40% of all cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are linked to modifiable risk factors.

The proportions of new cancer cases attributable to alcohol consumption were lowest in countries in Northern Africa and Western Asia, where religious-based policies have ensured that population alcohol consumption remains low and lifetime abstention rates remain high. There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer (1, 2). In its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen. Kara Wiseman is an epidemiologist and public health professor at the University of Virginia researching cancer prevention, alcohol use and smoking secession.

Overall, the team found that about 741,300 cancer cases in 2020, or 4.1% of the global total for that year, could be attributed to alcohol consumption. In the United States, a standard drink frequently is defined as 0.5 ounces (oz) or 14 grams of pure alcohol. This alcohol amount is found in 12 fluid oz of beer, 5 fluid oz of wine, and 1.5 fluid oz of 80-proof distilled spirits. While cancer remains primarily a disease that affects older people (57% of diagnoses are among people age 65 and older), the report authors highlighted concerning trends in cancer among middle age adults.

1. The NCI Alcohol and Cancer Risk Fact Sheet provides a broad overview of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer, and three recent papers explore Division interest in alcohol awareness (7,8) and research needs related to alcohol and cancer prevention and control (9).
2. The Cancer Progress Report states that another obstacle that still needs to be overcome is making early detection screenings and vaccines for vaccine-preventable cancers like cervical cancer accessible to everyone.
3. For other cancer types, carcinogenesis may occur when ethanol, the main component of alcohol, is metabolized into acetaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent.
4. Of particular concern is the rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger people, and it is often diagnosed in life-threatening late stages.

In terms of risk assessment, this meta-analysis confirms that high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., more than four drinks per day) result in a substantial risk of cancer development at several sites. At the same time, other studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can have protective effects against certain types of heart disease. Accordingly, one must determine whether moderate alcohol consumption results in an overall favorable or unfavorable risk-benefit balance for the individual drinker or an entire population.

The report lauded treatment breakthroughs for melanoma, small cell lung cancer, and blood cancers. A person’s risk of alcohol-related cancers is influenced by their genes, specifically the genes that encode enzymes involved in metabolizing (breaking down) alcohol (27). This was after they had refused bribery offers to stop being active in policymaking efforts. Although less frequent, very serious forms of intimidation were also reported across the sectors.

Two readers, who received no information on the names and affiliations of the authors of each study or the alcohol-related results, independently determined the eligibility of each article for inclusion in the meta-analysis. When the results of a study were published in more than one article, only the most recent and complete article was included in the analysis. Our findings show that corporate interests have worked tirelessly to thwart regulation of their products and actions by using intimidation tactics against public health researchers. But despite the significant personal and professional costs of working in an environment where their credibility is constantly questioned, researchers and advocates persevere. In most cases, even if delayed, researchers reported continuing with their public health work. Cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes and stroke now account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths globally.