Alcohol consumption linked to rising cancer mortality in US

A new study indicates that alcohol consumption may play a larger role in cancer-related deaths in the United States than previously understood. Research led by Dr. Chinmay Jani of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami found that the proportion of cancer deaths attributable to alcohol rose by over 58% among individuals aged 20 and older over the last 33 years.

The increased mortality risk is associated with several types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon, rectum, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and head and neck cancers. Among adults aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the primary cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality for men and the second leading cause for women, while breast cancer was the leading cause for women.

Researchers noted that even a single standard drink per day—defined in the US as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor—can increase these risks. This finding comes as federal guidelines have shifted from specific daily limits to general recommendations to consume less alcohol for better health.