Alcohol and Cancer Risk

How Alcohol Raises Cancer Risk

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says there is strong scientific agreement that drinking alcohol can cause several types of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a cause of cancer in people.

When the body breaks down alcohol, it makes acetaldehyde, a toxic chemical that can damage DNA and proteins. Alcohol can also raise estrogen levels and make it easier for the mouth and throat to absorb harmful chemicals, such as those in tobacco smoke.

In general, the more someone drinks over time, the higher the risk. The numbers below compare people who drink with people who do not drink.

Mouth Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of cancer of the oral cavity. NCI reports that people who drink heavily are about 5 times as likely as people who do not drink to develop cancer of the mouth or throat.

Drinking and smoking together raise the risk far more than either one alone. Stopping drinking is linked to a lower risk of mouth cancer.

Throat Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of cancer of the pharynx, the throat behind the mouth and nose. As with mouth cancer, NCI reports that people who drink heavily are about 5 times as likely to develop it as people who do not drink, and the risk is much greater for people who also smoke.

Stopping drinking may also lower the risk of throat cancer.

Voice Box Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of cancer of the larynx, the voice box. NCI reports that people who drink heavily are about 2.6 times as likely to develop it as people who do not drink. People who both drink and smoke have much greater risks.

Esophagus Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of squamous cell cancer of the esophagus, the food pipe. NCI reports that people who drink heavily are about 5 times as likely to develop it as people who do not drink.

This cancer is relatively uncommon, so even a large relative increase can mean a small change in a person's actual chance of getting it. Stopping drinking is linked to a lower risk.

Liver Cancer

Drinking is a cause of liver cancer. NCI reports that people who drink heavily are about 2 times as likely to develop liver cancer as people who do not drink.

Breast Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of breast cancer, even at low amounts. NCI reports that compared with women who do not drink, women who drink lightly are about 1.04 times as likely to develop breast cancer, women who drink moderately about 1.23 times and women who drink heavily about 1.6 times.

Alcohol raises estrogen levels in the blood, which is one way it may increase breast cancer risk. Stopping drinking may lower the risk.

Colon and Rectum Cancer

Drinking raises the risk of colorectal cancer. NCI reports that people who drink moderately to heavily are about 1.2 to 1.5 times as likely to develop it as people who do not drink. Stopping drinking may lower the risk.

What Counts as a Drink

A standard drink in the United States has about 14 grams of pure alcohol: about 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Help to Stop or Cut Back

It is never too late to stop, and you do not have to do it alone. Treatment for alcohol use disorder combines medication, counseling and regular follow-up while you keep living at home, through hybrid in-person and virtual care.

Stopping heavy daily drinking suddenly can cause seizures or delirium tremens, which can be fatal. Talk to a clinician before stopping, and call 911 for confusion, hallucinations or a seizure.

• Alcohol use disorder treatment, step by step
• Guide to alcohol use disorder treatment in South Carolina

Sources

The facts on this page come from the National Cancer Institute.

• National Cancer Institute, Alcohol and Cancer Risk (reviewed 2025)