Study Finds Even One Daily Drink Increases Risk of Multiple Cancer Deaths in U.S.
Research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas shows that the proportion of cancer deaths attributable to alcohol has doubled over the past 33 years, with risk rising from as little as one standard drink per day.
A new analysis of U.S. health data indicates that alcohol consumption is linked to a growing share of cancer deaths. The study, led by Dr. Chinmay Jani of the University of Miami, found that the percentage of cancer mortality attributable to alcohol doubled among adults aged 20 and older between 1990 and 2023.
The increase spans several cancer types, including breast, prostate, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and head-and-neck cancers. Dr. Jani noted that for adults aged 20-54, colorectal cancer was the leading alcohol-related cause of death in men and the second-leading cause in women, while breast cancer was the top alcohol-related killer among women.
The researchers estimate that consuming roughly one standard drink per day—defined as 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of 80-proof spirits—can elevate cancer risk. Between 1990 and 2023, annual alcohol-linked cancer deaths rose from 11,361 to 23,126.
Men and adults over 55 experienced the largest relative increase, with older males seeing a 24 % rise in alcohol-related cancer mortality. In older men, liver cancer showed the strongest association, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Among women over 55, breast cancer was the most common alcohol-related fatal cancer, followed by liver and colorectal cancers.
The study did not assess whether complete abstinence is necessary, but Dr. Jani emphasized that reducing alcohol intake to the lowest possible level is advisable for health. The findings come as federal guidelines on alcohol consumption have recently shifted from specific limits to a more general recommendation to “consume less.”
"What we used to think about alcohol continues to be eroded as modern science has shown us that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption," said Dr. Andrew Freeman, a cardiologist not involved in the research.
The analysis draws on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, which tracks mortality and risk factors worldwide. It highlights that even cancers with smaller relative increases—such as prostate, pancreatic, and stomach cancers—showed upward trends in alcohol-related deaths.
Public health experts suggest that the findings underscore the need for broader awareness of alcohol’s role in cancer risk and may inform future policy discussions.