In January 2025, then Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory with evidence detailing how alcohol consumption is linked to at least seven different types of cancer: breast, mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver and colorectal cancer. The advisory was based on observational studies and showed a person is at risk, even if they consume a very small amount of alcohol and no matter the type of alcohol.
Ann Maguire, MD, MPH, internal medicine physician, MCW faculty member and medical director of the Froedtert & MCW Hereditary Cancer Risk Clinic, breaks down the evidence and explains how to reduce your risk if you drink alcohol.
Key Findings: Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk
Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity. There are more alcohol-related cancer deaths in the U.S. than alcohol-associated traffic deaths. The link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk was established in the 1980s. The advisory issued in 2025 is intended to draw attention to a public health issue that warrants immediate awareness and action, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Currently, warning labels on alcohol only apply to pregnant women and people who are driving a car or operating heavy machinery. Dr. Murthy called for several changes, including adding a warning on alcoholic beverage labels about the risk of cancer. Dr. Murthy’s report also called for a reassessment of guidance on safe alcohol consumption, challenging the accepted belief that moderate drinking is “safe” or may have health benefits.
Key findings from the advisory:
- Less than half of Americans are aware that alcohol consumption increases cancer risk.
- All types of alcohol (beer, wine and spirits) are equivalent in terms of cancer risk.
- The risk of cancer increases as the level of alcohol consumption increases, with higher risk at higher levels of consumption.
- The risk of cancer increases with daily consumption, even with around one or fewer alcoholic drinks per day.
- According to observational studies, most alcohol-related cancer deaths occur in people who drink more than the current U.S. Dietary Guidelines’ recommended limits of 2 drinks daily for men and 1 drink daily for women. However, 17% occur at levels of consumption within the recommended limits.
- The impact of alcohol consumption is different for men and women. Women are more likely to experience increased cancer risk.
- At least seven different types of cancers are linked to alcohol consumption —the strongest association was with breast cancer.
- Breast cancer accounts for the majority of alcohol-related cancer deaths in women (60%). Liver cancer (33%) and colorectal cancer (21%) account for the majority of alcohol-related cancer deaths in men.
How Alcohol Causes Cancer
How alcohol causes cancer is still being heavily researched, but scientists have found its impact on the body’s metabolism can damage cells in at least four ways:
- Alcohol breaks down into a compound called acetaldehyde, which leads to cancer by binding to DNA and damaging cells. This can cause affected cells to multiply and develop into tumors.
- Alcohol increases inflammation in the body, which can lead to an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, called oxidative stress. An excess of free radicals can damage DNA in healthy cells, affect how the cells function and lead to errors in cell replication. Oxidative stress increases a person’s risk for many chronic conditions and diseases, not only cancer.
- Alcohol affects hormone levels in the body, including estrogen. This can affect the development of certain cancers, like breast cancer.
- Alcohol makes it easier for other carcinogens to be absorbed by the body, such as tobacco smoke, which increases the risk of cancers such as mouth and throat cancer.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer When You Drink Alcohol
Know your underlying risk. A person who is already at an increased risk of cancer should be more thoughtful about alcohol consumption than someone who has fewer personal risk factors associated with cancer.
The advisory’s evidence on the link between alcohol and breast cancer directly aligns with a longstanding recommendation from the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network to patients who have breast cancer or a family history of breast cancer to limit alcohol consumption as much as possible.
Avoid binge drinking. There is no “safe” amount of alcohol; even consuming alcohol within the recommended guidelines carries risk. However, the evidence shows that cancer risk increases as alcohol consumption increases, which means binge drinking is a high-risk behavior. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men consumed during one occasion. Wisconsin has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the nation.
Debunk the myth that some alcohol is good for you. There is a myth that red wine may be good for your heart, but consumption of any type of alcohol increases a person’s risk of chronic diseases. According to the American Heart Association, there is no research to support a cause-and-effect link between drinking alcohol and better heart health.
Be open with your health care team about alcohol consumption. Most people get an annual physical. This appointment is a good opportunity to have a conversation with your doctor or nurse practitioner about your alcohol consumption. If you have questions about alcohol or if you are seeking counseling or other resources, your Froedtert & MCW primary care team is prepared to help.
The Bottom Line
Alcohol consumption is one of many risk factors for cancer. Genetic risk factors and environmental risk factors are equally as important as alcohol use when it comes to an individual’s risk of developing cancer. All of these risk factors should be considered by each individual when making decisions about drinking alcohol.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Network
