A report released Wednesday by the American Association for Cancer Research has drawn attention to the links between alcohol consumption and rising cancer rates, particularly among younger adults.
While cancer death rates have generally decreased due to medical advancements, the overall incidence of several types of cancer has inexplicably risen, with a marked increase in cancers affecting the gastrointestinal system, such as colorectal cancer.
The report suggests that alcohol may be contributing to this troubling trend. It estimates that 40 percent of cancer cases are tied to modifiable risk factors, including alcohol consumption, and urges people to reduce their intake. Other recommended lifestyle changes include avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising, and limiting exposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants.
The findings challenge long-held beliefs about the potential health benefits of moderate drinking. For years, moderate alcohol consumption—particularly red wine—was thought to protect against heart disease. However, recent studies have questioned this view. A large-scale study from last month, which followed more than 135,000 older adults in the UK over a decade, found that moderate and light drinkers saw no significant reduction in heart disease compared to occasional drinkers. In fact, both groups had higher rates of cancer deaths.
Jane Figueiredo, an epidemiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who contributed to the report, noted that public awareness of alcohol’s cancer risks remains low.
“Fifty-one percent of people — or more than half — do not know that alcohol increases your risk of cancer,” Figueiredo said.
Despite the risks, alcohol was responsible for 5.4 percent of cancers in the United States in 2019.
The report identifies six types of cancer linked to excessive alcohol consumption, including cancers of the esophagus, head, neck, breast, colorectal system, liver, and stomach. Alarmingly, it found that breast and colorectal cancers have been increasing among adults under 50, with early-onset colorectal cancer rising by 1.9 percent each year between 2011 and 2019. Regular alcohol consumption in early and mid-adulthood has been shown to raise the risk of these cancers later in life.
Beyond cancer, alcohol is believed to disrupt the microbiome—the diverse population of bacteria and other microorganisms in the body—potentially contributing to cancer growth. For women, alcohol may increase breast cancer risk by raising estrogen levels, which can fuel tumor development. Drinking during pregnancy has also been linked to a higher risk of childhood leukemia, the report found.
While new treatments have improved survival rates for many cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer in older adults, the increasing incidence of these diseases among younger people remains a serious concern. The report advocates for public health campaigns to raise awareness of alcohol’s cancer risks and recommends the addition of cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages to help address this growing issue.
With input from the New York Times.
