A drink with dinner or friends might not seem like something that could affect your cancer risk.
But new research is drawing attention to the connection between alcohol and cancer, even among people who only drink casually.
From 1990 to 2023, alcohol-attributable cancer deaths more than doubled, increasing from about 11,000 a year to more than 23,000.
“Many people know that heavy drinking can affect the liver, but they may not realize alcohol is connected to several different cancers,” says Andrew Salner, MD, with Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute. “The important thing to understand is that cancer risk can increase even before someone would consider their drinking excessive.”
So what does that mean if you only drink occasionally? Here’s what experts want you to know about alcohol and cancer risk.
There isn’t one type of alcohol that’s safer for cancer risk
Wine sometimes gets a healthier reputation than beer or liquor, but when it comes to cancer risk, the type of drink isn’t the most important part.
Beer, wine and liquor all contain ethanol, which your body breaks down into a substance called acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde can damage DNA and interfere with the way cells repair that damage, which may contribute to cancer development over time.
“People sometimes ask whether switching from liquor to wine makes a difference,” Salner says. “For cancer risk, what matters more is how much alcohol you’re consuming, not whether it came from a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail.”
> Related: How Alcohol Affects Your Heart: 6 Risks You Should Know
Alcohol is linked to more cancers than you realize
The connection between alcohol and cancer goes well beyond liver cancer.
Drinking alcohol has been linked to an increased risk of cancers including:
- Mouth and throat
- Esophagus
- Liver
- Colon and rectum
- Breast
Research has also found associations between heavier alcohol use and cancers of the stomach and pancreas, while studies continue to look at its possible relationship with prostate cancer.
“Alcohol can affect the body in several ways, from damaging DNA to changing hormone levels and increasing inflammation,” Salner says. “That helps explain why the risk isn’t isolated to one organ.”
Want a Weekly Dose of Health News?
Even one drink a day can raise your risk
You don’t have to drink heavily for alcohol to affect cancer risk.
Research has shown that even relatively low levels of drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers, particularly breast cancer.
A standard drink is roughly:
- 12 ounces of regular beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor
And keep in mind that one glass doesn’t always equal one standard drink. A large wine pour or strong cocktail may contain considerably more alcohol than you realize.
“There isn’t a magic number where alcohol suddenly becomes risky,” Salner says. “In general, the more alcohol you drink and the more regularly you drink it, the greater your cancer risk becomes.”
> Related: Can Supplements Help Prevent Cancer?
Colorectal and breast cancer stood out in younger adults
One of the most striking findings involved adults ages 20 to 54.
Among men in that age group, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer death. Among women, breast cancer ranked first, followed by colorectal cancer.
That’s notable because alcohol-related cancer risk is often thought of as something that mainly affects older adults or people who have been drinking heavily for decades.
“Cancer risk develops over time, so the habits you have in your 20s, 30s and 40s can still matter,” Salner says. “You don’t have to wait until later in life to start thinking about ways to lower your risk.”
> Related: Why Does Alcohol Cause Cancer?
Cutting back can still make a difference
The connection between alcohol and cancer doesn’t mean you need to panic about every drink you’ve ever had.
Instead, think of alcohol as one modifiable cancer risk factor.
Moderation can be a good goal, with a general guideline of one drink per day or less.
If you drink regularly, cutting back on the number of days you drink, having fewer drinks at a time or choosing alcohol-free options more often can all reduce your overall exposure.
“You don’t have to think about this as an all-or-nothing decision,” Salner says. “Reducing how much alcohol you drink is one practical way to lower your exposure to a known cancer risk factor.”
