By Dr. Dominique Carson, LMP, H.C.
Before you reach for that well-crafted libation, glass of wine, or tall brew, there’s a shocking truth: alcohol consumption may cause cancer. This hidden danger could be putting your health at serious risk without you even realizing it.
The U.S. Surgeon General who put out an Alcohol and Cancer Risk Advisory specifying the correlation between alcohol and cancer based on their research in 2024. The study predicts that alcohol use in the United States contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year- an estimated 5–6% of all cancer cases. Research suggests that for every additional standard drink consumed per day—roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol—the risk of developing certain cancers increases by about 10%.
After reading the research, community leaders and health experts are encouraging everyone to take a deeper look at their alcohol consumption and how it affects their everyday lives. Scientists hope these warnings will enable others to reevaluate their drinking habits and consider the health risks.
“Today’s advisory from the U.S Surgeon General brings necessary awareness to the risks of alcohol consumption as it relates to cancer incidence,” said Dr. Williams Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society. “Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer. It is imperative that people are made aware of the potential impact of alcohol consumption and are met with recommendations on how to reduce their risk.”
The U.S. Surgeon General has identified alcohol as a significant risk factor for at least seven sites: breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx). When a person adds tobacco to alcohol, there is an increased factor of cancer in the esophagus and oral cavity because symptoms would multiply over time.
One primary way that alcohol contributes to cancer is through its metabolism.
According to the advisory, “there is extensive evidence from biological studies that ethanol (the type of pure alcohol found in all alcohol-containing beverages) causes cancer in at least four distinct ways (Figure 4).7,23,24,29,35-38 • First; alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde in the body. Acetaldehyde is a metabolite that causes cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin to grow uncontrollably and create a cancerous tumor.
• Second, alcohol generates reactive oxygen species, which increase inflammation and can damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the body through a process called oxidation. • Third, alcohol alters hormone levels (including estrogen), which can play a role in the development of breast cancer. • Fourth, carcinogens from other sources, especially particles of tobacco smoke, can dissolve in alcohol, making it easier for them to be absorbed into the body, increasing the risk for mouth and throat cancers.”
Additionally, the absolute risk of breast cancer over the lifespan of a woman is “approximately 11.3% (about 11 out of 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink per week compared to 13.1% (about 13 out of 100 individuals) or 15.3% (about 15 out of 100 individuals) for those who consume one or two drinks per day, respectively.”
Alcohol significantly impairs the body’s ability to absorb and utilize vital nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E, and folate. Vitamins are crucial in protecting our cells from harm, and a deficiency in them can leave the body more vulnerable to the damaging effects of various toxins that may lead to cancer. Prioritizing these nutrients is essential for maintaining our body’s defenses and overall health.
As per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 50% of Americans typically consume alcohol. Statistically, this is important because chronic alcohol consumption can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, and gastrointestinal complications.
Furthermore, consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as 12 ounces of beer, eight to nine ounces of malt liquor, five ounces of wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor consumed can increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, and colon. Many studies focus on heavy drinking, which the NIAAA defines as four alcoholic beverages for women or five for men in two hours, which results in a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL. Five or more occurrences of such episodes within one month is considered as binge drinking.”
Long-term quitting or reducing alcohol consumption is linked to a lower risk of certain alcohol-related cancers. However, more research is needed to find out if this reduced risk applies to other types of cancer and whether the risk level decreases to that of individuals who have never consumed alcohol.
While an individual's cancer risk, including alcohol-related cancers, results from a complex interplay of biological factors (like genetics) and environmental factors (such as carcinogen exposure), the American Cancer Society reminds us that alcohol should not be dismissed as a mere social lubricant; and hopes to increase awareness of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer.
To learn more about alcohol-related cancers visit:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/diet-physical-activity/alcohol-use-and-cancer.html
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/alcohol.html
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/alcohol-cancer/index.html
