How Much Alcohol Does It Take to Raise Your Cancer Risk?

Research has shown that the more alcohol a person drinks — particularly the more a person consumes regularly, over time — the greater the risk of cancer. The association is true for all types of alcohol: beer, wine and spirits. But even what we think of as “light” or “moderate” drinking — up to one drink per day — increases the risk of some cancers, like those of the mouth, pharynx and breast. “There is no safe level of alcohol when it comes to cancer risk,” said Dr. Ernest Hawk, the vice president and head of the division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

 Is drinking alcohol ever good for you? Here’s what the science says

If you're confused, you're not alone.

 The Battle Over What to Tell Americans About Drinking

Officials in other countries are warning about the health hazards of alcohol in any amount. Americans are still told that moderate drinking is safe. What gives?

 The Surgeon General Calls for New Warning Labels on Alcohol—Here’s the Truth About How It Impacts Your Health

Recent studies suggest drinking is riskier than once believed. What do we know now that we didn’t know then—and is it time to stop sipping for good?

Alcohol Consumption Raises the Risk of Seven Cancers, Says U.S. Surgeon General in a New Health Advisory

The “Nation’s Doctor” has called for a cancer warning label on alcoholic beverages and suggests the recommended limits for alcohol consumption should be reassessed.

Alcohol Gives You Cancer So I’m Not Going to Bother with Anything Anymore

You’d think the sweet nectar that is our old friend alcohol would be a relatively safe release from this trundling malaise, but no—you’d be wrong, friend, because guess what? Oh yeah, that’s right, baby: Alcohol gives you fucking cancer now. Seven different types of cancer, in fact. You don’t even need to drink a lot of it, and you’re still at risk of dying from the world’s saddest disease. Good god.

Alcohol increases cancer risk, but don’t trust the booze industry to give you the facts straight

The alcohol industry has been misleading the public about the real link between alcohol and cancer, with tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry. This is the finding from research published today in the Drug and Alcohol Review journal. The misleading information is being passed off as health messaging to a public largely unaware that it’s coming from the industry itself. For nearly three decades, we have known cancer risk increases with alcohol consumption levels, on a dose-to-response basis. That is, the more we drink the greater the risk.

Alcohol Warning Labels: A Public Health Priority Or A Misplaced Target?

The advisory follows longstanding concerns about alcohol’s role in public health, particularly as a preventable cause of cancer. But the timing of this recommendation—along with the omission of other significant risks like obesity—has sparked debate. Is this advisory a well-timed intervention, or does it reflect deeper inconsistencies in public health priorities?

Cancer and Alcohol: How Much Do You (Really) Drink?

Are my days of sipping vino over? You ready for this one? A new study shows that even moderate drinking can increase women's risk for various cancers. And by moderate I mean that one 6-ounce glass of red wine a day we were told was good for our hearts. The study—which looked at more than one million British women over the course of seven years—compared those who had two or fewer drinks a week with women who drank more

Even Moderate Drinking Increases Cancer Risks, Warns US Surgeon General

“Many people out there assume that as long as they’re drinking at the limits or below the limits of current guidelines of one a day for women and two for men, that there is no risk to their health or well-being,” Dr. Murthy added in an interview, per The New York Times. “The data does not bear that out for cancer risk.” He also said that the risk of cancer rises as alcohol consumption increases, but this also depends on the person and their unique genetic makeup.

Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Can Cause Cancer, Surgeon General Says

The advisory cites alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S. after tobacco and obesity and notes that there are about 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths in the country annually. That's more than the yearly number of alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities. What's especially concerning, Murthy says, is that 17% of these deaths occur in people who follow the U.S. Dietary Guidelines: consuming no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.

Forget drinking in moderation: Here's why science says abstinence is your best option for a healthier life

Sobering science tells us that no amount of booze is good for our health. So should we rethink the way we drink? During Dry January in 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement about alcohol that poured warm, stale lager on the idea that any amount of booze is good for you. There’s no such thing as a safe drink, it said. Issued in The Lancet Public Health, the statement reminded us that “alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive and dependence-producing substance and [was] classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago.” Sobering stuff, and a surprise for those of us who toast our health with the occasional tipple.

Health Check: does alcohol cause cancer?

The World Health Organisation’s new World Cancer Report 2014 shows cancer is responsible for 8.2 million deaths in 2012. Around 340,000 of those deaths were the direct result of alcohol consumption. The link between alcohol and cancer itself is not news. Way back in 1988, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that alcohol consumption was a group one carcinogen – a direct cause of cancer in humans.

How much does alcohol increase cancer risk? What to know after recent advisory

According to the advisory, less than half of Americans know of the cancer risks posed by drinking alcohol.

Pour One Out

The boozy story of how we decided alcohol was a health boon in the ’90s—and how it all fell apart.

Some sobering facts about alcohol and cancer risk

If you choose to drink alcohol, keep your cancer risk as low as possible by having no more than 2 standard drinks a week. The less alcohol you drink, the lower your cancer risk.

The links between alcohol and cancer are clear, but most Australians are unaware of the risks

I won’t tell anyone they should never touch alcohol, but many would do well to replace mindless drinking with mindful drinking.

The U.S. surgeon general wants cancer warnings on alcohol. Here's why

"Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer behind tobacco and obesity," Murthy, who will leave office later this month, told NPR. "Just to put this in perspective, alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year and 20,000 cancer deaths."

Women and Alcohol: One Glass a Day Linked to Cancer

Even one small glass of wine or beer a day increases the risk of women developing breast cancer, according to a new report. Even the experts are surprised by the results.

Yikes: You Won't Want to Know This Possible Effect of Alcohol

We all knew drinking alcohol in excess can lead to all sorts of health problems, but a few drinks here and there didn't seem like a big deal—until this bad news came in. A study in Addiction has shown that even drinking in moderation can lead to cancer—of seven varieties, no less. Oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast cancer have all been linked to alcohol consumption.

Your favorite drink can cause breast cancer – but most women in the US aren’t aware of alcohol’s health risks

Did you know that casual drinks with friends or having a “wine mom” moment to unwind could actually be nudging up your risk for breast cancer? It sounds like a buzzkill. But it’s a truth that many might not know: Alcohol actually causes breast cancer.

Your risk of cancer likely increases with each additional drink of alcohol

Light drinking may prolong your life—but it's more complicated than that.