US alcohol-linked cancer deaths doubled since 1990

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas reveals that alcohol-attributed cancer deaths in the United States more than doubled between 1990 and 2023. The number of fatalities rose from 11,361 to 23,126 during this 33-year period, representing a 103 percent increase.

While liver cancer remains the primary alcohol-linked mortality risk for older populations, the research highlights a significant shift among adults aged 20 to 54. For men in this younger demographic, colorectal cancer has emerged as the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality. For women in the same age group, breast cancer is the top risk, followed by colorectal cancer.

Researchers from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center noted that while overall cancer death rates in the U.S. have been declining, alcohol’s contribution to the total cancer death rate has increased from 2.2 percent in 1990 to 3.5 percent in 2023. Dr. Chinmay Jani, the study's corresponding author, emphasized the need to broaden public awareness regarding alcohol’s links to other cancers, including esophageal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.