Cancer Deaths Attributable to Alcohol Rose 58% Over the Last 33 Years

A new study reveals that alcohol significantly contributes to cancer mortality in the United States, with the proportion attributable to alcohol rising by 58% over the past 33 years, according to CNN. Dr. Chinmay Jani, the study's lead author, notes that even a single standard drink per day can increase one's risk of cancer. A standard drink equates to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

The liver metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, a probable carcinogen, which can damage DNA and hinder DNA repair before converting into a harmless molecule, acetate. This process is not entirely effective, allowing acetaldehyde to potentially harm DNA and interfere with DNA repair. Moreover, alcohol induces oxidative stress, damaging DNA, proteins, and cell function, and creating inflammation.

It also weakens cells in the mouth and throat, making them more vulnerable to carcinogens. This effect is amplified when alcohol is consumed alongside tobacco, a major source of acetaldehyde. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with the absorption of essential nutrients linked to cancer prevention, such as vitamins A, C, D, and E, and folates from the B vitamin complex.

The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health — Americas, analyzed over three decades of US data from the Global Burden of Disease Study. From 1990 to 2023, the number of alcohol-linked cancer deaths in the US doubled, rising from 11,361 to 23,126. The impact was most severe among men aged 55 and older, with a 24% increase in alcohol-related cancer mortality.

For men, liver cancer was most strongly associated with alcohol consumption, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Among women aged 55 and older, breast cancer emerged as the leading cause of death from alcohol-related cancers, followed by liver and colorectal cancers.