Alcohol consumption linked to more than double U.S. cancer deaths over three decades, study shows

A team led by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center examined over 30 years of Global Burden of Disease data and found U.S. alcohol-related cancer deaths increased from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023. The rise spans multiple cancer sites, including liver, colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers, challenging the public’s limited perception of alcohol’s carcinogenic role. Older men experience the greatest total burden, with liver cancer most common, while younger adults (20-54) see colorectal cancer as a leading cause.

Women’s alcohol-linked deaths are dominated by breast cancer. Researchers emphasize that no minimum safe alcohol intake has been established and that modest reductions may help lower long-term cancer risk, though the analysis cannot prove direct causation.