How Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?

Drinking alcohol of any kind—beer, liquor, and wine—is a leading cause of cancer. Alcohol is a carcinogen, or a cancer-causing substance. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of cancer—including breast, colorectal, and esophageal cancers.

Too few Americans are aware of this risk. A study published in 2023 found that more than 50% of Americans report not knowing how alcoholic drinks affect cancer risk. Read on to learn about the link between alcohol and cancer and how to cut back on your alcohol consumption.

How Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?

The 2023 study noted that more than 50% of U.S. adults reported not knowing how alcohol affects cancer risk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology program lists alcohol consumption as a known human carcinogen.

Alcohol produces acetaldehyde, a carcinogen, when the body metabolizes it, Edward Giovannucci, MD, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told Health. The body naturally produces acetaldehyde in small amounts. In excess, acetaldehyde can cause DNA damage, which is how carcinogens create abnormal cancer cells.

Drinking too much alcohol can also break down the tissues it comes into direct contact with, said Dr. Giovannucci. Those include the upper throat, esophagus, and stomach.

What Are the Chances of Getting Cancer From Alcohol?

Research has linked about 75,000 annual cancer diagnoses in the U.S., including nearly 19,000 deaths, to alcohol use. Your body produces large amounts of acetaldehyde if you drink a lot of alcohol in one sitting. As a result, drinking less equals a lower risk of cancer.

Of note: The cancer risk for alcohol is lower than the risk for other well-known carcinogens. Smoking, for example, is responsible for about 20% of all cancers and about 30% of all cancer deaths in the U.S.

Still, "you don't want to ignore any carcinogens," William M.P. Klein, Ph.D., senior study author and associate director of the National Cancer Institute's Behavioral Research Program, told Health.

What Cancers Are Linked to Alcohol?

Research has shown that alcohol is a risk factor for several cancers, including those that affect the following:

• Breast
• Colorectal
• Esophageal
• Larynx 
• Liver  
• Mouth
• Pharynx
• Stomach

Which Types of Alcohol Are the Highest Risk?

In the 2023 study, about 10.3% of people incorrectly thought that wine, in particular, reduced cancer risk. All types of alcohol, including beer, liquor, and wine, similarly increase cancer risk.

"This study's findings underscore the need to develop interventions for educating the public about the cancer risks of alcohol use, particularly in the prevailing context of national dialogue about the purported heart health benefits of wine," Klein said in a press release.

How To Cut Back on Alcohol Consumption

Try making a note of how much you drink to ensure that you do not consume too much alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that men drink no more than two alcoholic drinks daily, and women have no more than one.

You might take a close look at your relationship with alcohol, George Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), told Health. Consider whether you tend to drink alcohol in certain settings or situations, if you do it out of boredom, or if you simply like the taste.

Once you have pinned down your why, here are a few ways to cut back:

• Avoid triggers: Limit how much alcohol you keep at home. Do not engage in activities that lead you to drink excessively. It might help to write down your reason for cutting back on a piece of paper or your phone.
• Develop new habits: For example, meditate to reduce anxiety or reach out to friends or family when you feel stressed. Let people close to you know about your goals to drink less, said Koob: "It can be easier to make behavior changes if you know you're supported by people close to you."
• Find different social outings: Substitute activities that revolve around drinking for an activity that does not have to include alcohol. It can seem difficult, especially if others in your circle also rely on drinking as their main way to socialize, but it's been done before. 
• Talk to a healthcare provider: You might seek out a therapist or certified health and wellness coach who specializes in behavior changes if you want help reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. They can help you establish and reach goals.

A Quick Review

Alcohol of any kind, including beer, liquor, and wine, is a leading cause of cancer. Still, many Americans are unaware of this link. Drinking too much alcohol creates acetaldehyde, a carcinogen. This cancer-causing substance can cause DNA damage, which may result in abnormal cell growth that leads to cancer.

The more alcohol you drink, the higher your cancer risk. You can cut back on your alcohol consumption to help protect against cancer. Limit yourself to one to two drinks per day, and try replacing drinking alcohol with other activities. Reach out to a healthcare provider if you have trouble cutting back on alcohol.