U.S. Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths Double Over Three Decades, Study Shows
Research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas finds U.S. deaths from cancers linked to alcohol consumption rose from about 11,400 in 1990 to over 23,100 in 2023, affecting multiple cancer types.
A new analysis of Global Burden of Disease data indicates that deaths attributable to alcohol-related cancers in the United States have more than doubled since 1990, reaching over 23,100 in 2023. The increase spans several cancer sites, including colorectal, breast, esophageal, pancreatic and prostate cancers, in addition to liver cancer.
The study, released on Aug. 2 and conducted by researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, notes that elevated cancer risk has been observed at alcohol intakes as low as 5-15 grams per day, roughly half of a standard U.S. drink.
"The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types," said Dr. Chinmay Jani, corresponding author and chief fellow in hematology and oncology.
"What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people," added Dr. Gilberto Lopes, senior author and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology. He emphasized that alcohol is a modifiable risk factor and that modest changes could help lower community cancer risk.
The authors acknowledge limitations inherent in the observational design of the database, which may result in incomplete data for some cancer categories.