Alcohol Cancer Risks Linked to an Increasing Number of Deaths: Report

The WHO declared alcohol a carcinogen in 1987, following research that showed it can break down into some of the same cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes.

Although overall cancer deaths in the U.S. declined by 35% between 1990 and 2021, a new study set to be presented at this week’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago reveals that alcohol-related cancer deaths have doubled over the same period.

The findings were reported by NBC News on May 22, highlighting data that shows how the increase in cancer deaths from alcohol has been led by men over the age of 55.

Alcohol Cancer Risks

When alcohol is consumed, it breaks down in the body into a chemical called acetaldehyde—a known carcinogen also present in cigarette smoke. Due to growing evidence linking alcohol to cancer, several governments worldwide have begun issuing formal guidance on alcohol-related cancer risks.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alongside former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, issued a press release stating that alcohol is now considered the leading cause of preventable cancer in the United States. Murthy and HHS officials also called for mandatory warning labels on alcoholic beverages to alert consumers to the potential cancer risks.

In addition, starting in 2026, Ireland will require warning labels on all alcoholic beverages sold in that country, which will say in red capital letters:

“THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND FATAL CANCERS.”

This decision followed a June 2023 joint statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to the European Parliament, which specifically said, “There is clear evidence of an increased risk of cancer from light or moderate alcohol drinking. As such, no safe amount of alcohol consumption for cancers can be established.”

Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths

The new study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, who looked at various demographic factors for alcohol-related cancer deaths during the period between 1990 and 2021.

According to NBC News, the research team, led by Dr. Chinmay Jani, found that alcohol-related cancer deaths rose from just under 12,000 in 1990 to more than 23,000 in 2021, with men seeing a 56% increase in these kinds of cancer deaths during that period, while women saw an 8% increase.

The American Cancer Society reports that over the same period, overall cancer deaths fell by 35%.

In particular, alcohol-related cancer deaths involving men rose from 2.5% of all male cancer deaths in 1991 to 4.2% in 2021. The total percentage of women’s alcohol-related cancer deaths rose from 1.46% to 1.85% over the study period.

NBC News also points out that the study shows alcohol could be a driving factor in deaths from at least seven different forms of cancer, including:

Of these seven most common forms of alcohol-related cancers, liver cancer was the most deadly for men, while breast cancer was the most deadly for women. The rates of these kinds of cancers increased in 47 U.S. states for men and 16 states for women.

In addition, the researchers found that alcohol cancer risks are highest for people over the age of 55, with the number of alcohol-related cancer deaths increasing for men in that age group by 1% every year from 2007 to 2021, NBC News reports.

The findings of this study are considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.