Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, have documented a sharp rise in U.S. cancer deaths linked to alcohol consumption. An analysis of Global Burden of Disease data spanning more than three decades shows annual alcohol‑related cancer fatalities climbing from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023, more than doubling the toll.
Rising Cancer Mortality Linked to Alcohol
The study, published in August in Lancet Regional Health, ties alcohol intake to an elevated risk of death from a broad set of cancers. The cancers identified include breast, prostate, colon, rectal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and cancers of the head and neck. While older men experienced the most pronounced impact, the upward trend was observed across most cancer types, age groups, and U.S. regions.
Among men, the strongest association was with liver cancer, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. For women aged 55 and older, breast cancer emerged as the leading alcohol‑related killer, with liver and colorectal cancers ranking next. The mortality rate for men 55 and older rose nearly 24 percent over the 33‑year period examined.
Alcohol’s classification as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer places it in the same hazard category as tobacco smoke and asbestos. Importantly, risk elevation is evident at relatively low consumption levels. The research notes that intake as modest as 5 to 15 grams of ethanol per day—equivalent to less than a standard U.S. drink (14 grams of pure alcohol)—can increase cancer risk.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that alcohol contributed roughly 5 percent of the 1.8 million cancer cases diagnosed in the United States in 2019, amounting to about 100,000 cases. It also accounted for about 4 percent of the roughly 600,000 cancer deaths that year, or close to 25,000 fatalities.
Implications and Calls for Action
Earlier last year, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy identified alcohol as the third‑leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind only tobacco and obesity. He advocated for mandatory warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers of the associated cancer risks.
The findings underscore that even moderate drinking—defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a “standard drink” of 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol—carries measurable cancer risk. Public health experts suggest that the growing mortality figures, especially among older men, signal a need for heightened awareness and potentially revised consumption guidelines.
As the data illustrate a sustained upward trajectory, policymakers and health officials may consider bolstering preventive strategies, including education campaigns, labeling requirements, and targeted interventions for high‑risk populations. The research provides a data‑driven foundation for such initiatives, emphasizing that the cancer burden linked to alcohol is expanding across the nation.
Overall, the study presents a stark reminder that alcohol’s health impacts extend far beyond liver disease, encompassing a wide spectrum of malignancies. The doubling of alcohol‑related cancer deaths over the past three decades highlights an urgent public‑health challenge that warrants comprehensive attention.
Helene Elliott is the Lead Science & Space Reporter at News Raise. She reports on aerospace missions, astrophysics discoveries, quantum research, and environmental technology.
