Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths in the U.S. More Than Double Since 1990
A study using Global Burden of Disease data shows alcohol-attributable cancer deaths rose from about 11,400 in 1990 to over 23,100 in 2023, with colorectal cancer leading among younger men.
Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine analyzed Global Burden of Disease data from 1990 to 2023 and found that deaths linked to alcohol consumption more than doubled, increasing from an estimated 11,400 annually in 1990 to over 23,100 in 2023. The analysis identified colorectal cancer as the most common alcohol-attributable cancer death among men aged 20-54, and the second most common among women in the same age group after breast cancer.
"The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types," said Chinmay Jani, hematologist and oncologist and corresponding author of the study.
The authors noted that alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet public awareness of its cancer risk remains lower than for other carcinogens such as tobacco. They cited prior research linking even modest drinking—0.18 to 0.53 ounces (5 to 15 grams) of alcohol per day—to increased breast cancer risk in women, a level comparable to a standard drink.
The study also highlighted a possible connection between rising colorectal cancer rates in adults under 65 and alcohol consumption, echoing other recent research showing a higher incidence of the disease among younger cohorts.
"[While] the lowest safe dose is not yet known, this study suggests that reducing consumption to the lowest amount feasible for each individual may help lessen its impact on cancer risk and overall health," Jani added.
The researchers acknowledged limitations of the Global Burden of Disease dataset, including the lack of demographic details such as race and ethnicity, which may mask socioeconomic influences on cancer risk. Senior author Gilberto Lopes emphasized that the findings indicate alcohol-related cancer risk is not confined to a single disease or demographic group.
"What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people," Lopes said.