The Sobering Truth: How Alcohol Affects Cancer Risk

Dry January and nonalcoholic drink alternatives are more popular than ever right now. These are just a few signs that people are rethinking their relationship with alcohol, which is a good thing.

The reason why is pretty well-known: Alcohol can have many harmful effects on your physical and mental health.

“One health effect that has been less talked about is the risk of cancer due to alcohol,” says cancer specialist Suneel Kamath, MD. “Hopefully, when people learn more about it, they’ll have another reason to curb or eliminate their alcohol use.”

Dr. Kamath discusses the link between alcohol and cancer.

Can alcohol cause cancer?

The answer is a resounding “yes.” Alcohol — including beer, wine and liquor — is a known cause of cancer (carcinogen), reports the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A 2024 study estimates that about 20,000 cancer-related deaths each year are due to alcohol consumption.

Despite this clear evidence, over half of U.S. adults are unaware of the connection between alcohol and cancer, according to a national survey. And about 10% of those surveyed believe wine actually reduces cancer risk. (It doesn’t.)

But the issue is getting more attention. In 2025, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recommended adding a health-warning label to alcoholic beverages to increase awareness of the cancer risk.

“I’m always surprised that people aren’t aware of the cancer-related risks of consuming alcohol,” says Dr. Kamath. “Perhaps it’s because the media and advertising promote alcohol so heavily.”

How much does alcohol raise cancer risk? That depends on how much you drink and the cancer type, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

For example, the NCI reports that light drinking raises the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (a common type of esophageal cancer) by 30%. Heavy drinking raises the risk by 400%.

How does alcohol increase cancer risk?

Alcohol affects your entire body, though researchers aren’t exactly sure how it causes cancer. But they have several theories.

One theory is that alcohol increases the production of free radicals, says Dr. Kamath. (Acetaldehyde is the most well-known one and there are likely many others.)

“The excess free radicals cause oxidative stress, which leads to DNA damage in cells,” he explains. “Your body can repair the damage, but constant exposure can overwhelm those cleanup operations.”

Another theory is related to diet. People who drink alcohol may have an unhealthy diet and may have overweight — two other factors that increase cancer risk.

The combination of alcohol and tobacco also increases cancer risk, compared to the risk from either behavior alone. This may be because alcohol mixes with the chemicals in tobacco smoke, making it easier for the chemicals to enter cells.

Types of cancer related to alcohol use

The seven most common types of cancer associated with alcohol include:

• Breast
• Colorectal
• Mouth
• Throat, including the upper throat (oropharynx) and voice box (larynx)
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Liver

Does drinking alcohol make cancer worse?

Consuming alcohol after a cancer diagnosis can decrease the effectiveness of some treatments. It may also cause harmful side effects. If you’re undergoing cancer treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about whether alcohol is safe for you.

If you have liver cancer, avoiding alcohol is especially important. Your liver removes alcohol from your blood and breaks it down. If you continue to drink after being diagnosed with liver cancer, you can damage healthy liver cells. You may also limit your treatment options.

For cancer survivors, there’s some evidence that continued alcohol use may increase the risk of cancer coming back. It can also increase your chance of developing a new cancer. Yet, nearly 80% of cancer survivors continue to drink alcohol, according to a large study.

“Thanks to earlier diagnoses and better treatments, more people are surviving cancer,” shares Dr. Kamath. “I encourage people to live as healthy as possible after cancer treatment. That includes limiting alcohol intake as much they can.”

How can you lower alcohol-related cancer risk?

Quitting alcohol has many benefits. But it won’t decrease your risk overnight, particularly if you’ve used alcohol for many years. But quitting does keep your risk from rising further — and research shows that sustained quitting is associated with lower cancer rates.

It’s difficult to predict how much or how fast your cancer risk drops after you stop drinking. It may take years for your risk to decrease to the level of those who never consumed alcohol.

Is there a safe amount of alcohol to drink without causing cancer?

When it comes to how much alcohol you should drink, less is better. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 recommends limiting alcoholic beverage consumption to:

• No more than one drink per day for people assigned female at birth (AFAB)
• No more than two drinks per day for people assigned male at birth (AMAB)

“But if you want to prevent cancer, there’s really no safe amount of alcohol,” clarifies Dr. Kamath. “I tell people to drink as little as they can, preferably one or two drinks per week at the most. Swapping an alcoholic drink with one of the many nonalcoholic drink options is a great way to achieve this.”

When to get help

Some people have a sense of “cancer fatalism” and believe there’s nothing they can do to lower their cancer risk. This couldn’t be further from the truth, emphasizes Dr. Kamath.

“Up to half of all cancers are preventable,” he affirms. “Knowing that may give people a sense of control and responsibility for their health.”

Eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking are the three most important steps you can take to limit your chances of getting cancer. But reducing alcohol is important, too.

If you have alcohol addiction or are sober curious, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you find the support you need to kick the alcohol habit and start reducing your risk of cancer.