Alcohol consumption has been convincingly linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, liver, lung, esophageal, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, and head and neck cancers. It also may increase stomach cancer risk[1]. When the body metabolizes alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a mutagen[2] that can damage DNA and proteins. Free radicals produced during alcohol metabolism can do further damage to cells. Alcohol can also influence hormone levels and impair nutrient absorption. A January 2025 report from the surgeon general named it as a leading preventable cause of cancer, noting that it contributes directly to at least 20,000 cancer deaths in the United States each year.[3]
While recent studies indicate that any alcohol consumption increases your overall risk of cancer, the relationship between alcohol and cancer risk is dose-responsive[4]. This means that the more alcohol consumed, the higher the risk. The risk increase is sharp between moderate drinking (defined as 2 or fewer drinks daily for men, 1 or fewer for women[5]), and heavy drinking (defined as 15 or more weekly drinks for men, or 8 or more for women).
In some studies, heavy drinking has been shown to double the already-increased overall cancer risk associated with moderate drinking. For specific cancers, that increase might be even greater.
Besides the increased cancer risk, heavy drinking causes other serious health problems:
- Heart disease and increased risk of stroke
- Liver disease and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
- Dementia
- Weakened immune system
- Miscarriage and fetal abnormalities (if consumed during pregnancy)
- Depression
- Bodily injury (from falls, vehicular crashes, and violence)
However, because of the dose-responsiveness of alcohol, reducing your consumption can significantly reduce your risk. Cutting back to moderate levels of drinking won’t entirely eliminate the risks posed by alcohol, but it will mitigate them significantly.
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