Alcohol-linked cancer deaths: A new U.S. study suggests alcohol-related cancer deaths have more than doubled since 1990, with a striking shift among younger adults. Researchers found that colorectal cancer has become the leading alcohol-attributable cancer cause of death among men aged 20–54, while breast cancer remains the leading cause among younger women. The findings add to growing evidence that alcohol’s cancer risks extend far beyond liver disease.
Alcohol-Linked Cancer Deaths Have More Than Doubled
Researchers from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed more than three decades of data from the Global Burden of Disease study. They estimated that annual U.S. cancer deaths attributable to alcohol increased from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023. The analysis covered multiple cancer types and showed that alcohol’s contribution to cancer mortality has grown even as overall mortality from several cancers has declined.
Also Read | Your hot tea could be raising esophageal cancer risk
The Younger-Age Finding That Stands Out
The pattern looked different among adults aged 20 to 54. Among men in this age group, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths. For women, colorectal cancer ranked second, behind breast cancer, and surpassed liver cancer in both groups. Researchers said this finding is particularly important because alcohol is often more strongly associated in the public mind with liver disease than with cancers affecting the bowel or other organs.
Alcohol Is Linked to More Than Liver Cancer
The research reinforces that alcohol’s potential cancer impact extends across several organs. Alcohol-attributable deaths included cancers of the liver, esophagus, colon, and breast, among others. Scientists explain that alcohol can be metabolized into acetaldehyde, a substance capable of damaging DNA, while alcohol can also influence hormones and other biological processes involved in cancer development.
Also Read | Can air purifiers reduce lung cancer risk from pollution?
What Should People Take From the Findings?
The study does not mean that every cancer death in a person who drinks was caused by alcohol, nor does it establish an individual’s exact risk. The researchers used population-level estimates rather than tracking individual drinking histories and cancer outcomes. Still, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that alcohol is a modifiable cancer risk factor. Experts emphasize that reducing alcohol consumption can help lower long-term risk, while there is no established level that can be considered completely risk-free for cancer.