Alcohol-related cancer deaths have nearly doubled across the United States over the last three decades. Men, particularly those over 55, account for the overwhelming majority of cases, according to new research presented at a major oncology conference.
In 1990, alcohol was tied to just under 12,000 cancer deaths annually. By 2021, that figure had jumped to more than 23,000, according to a study set to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Researchers from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, who analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease database, say that men accounted for 70% of these deaths in 2021, more than 16,500 cases. Women, by contrast, saw only an 8% increase during the same period, while deaths among men surged by 56%.
“It was not surprising that it was higher in men, but it was certainly surprising how much higher it was,” said lead author Dr. Chinmay Jani, a hematology and oncology fellow at the University of Miami.
The study highlights liver cancer as the leading cause of alcohol-related cancer deaths, followed by colon and esophageal cancers. All told, alcohol’s contribution to total cancer deaths rose by nearly 50% between 1990 and 2021.
Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a classification it has held since 1987. It’s been tied to cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast. Even moderate drinking, long thought to be safe, carries a measurable cancer risk.
Yet public awareness remains low. A 2024 report by the American Association for Cancer Research found that over half of Americans don’t realize alcohol increases cancer risk. Earlier surveys have shown that while the dangers of tobacco are widely understood, alcohol’s link to cancer is far less recognized.
“The carcinogenic effect probably isn’t affecting you right away in your younger age,” Jani said, “but as you continue to drink as you age, this carcinogen has an accumulative effect on the body.”
In response to the findings, the U.S. Surgeon General has called for increased public education and stronger warning labels on alcoholic beverages. Experts say better awareness, both among the public and within the medical community, could lead to earlier interventions and save lives.
“We hope that our study will help educate the public on the impact of alcohol on individual cancer risk,” said senior author Dr. Gilberto Lopes. “This is a potentially modifiable factor.”