Is Alcohol the New Smoking?

Last month, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a stark warning: Alcohol consumption increases your risk of cancer. This risk is not confined to heavy drinkers. While most cancer deaths are linked to drinking levels that exceed U.S. Dietary Guidelines, even moderate consumption—such as one drink a day or less—can elevate the risk of breast, mouth and throat cancers. 

“I think that a lot of people don't equate alcohol with cancer,” says Javad S. Mashkuri, MD, an emergency department physicians at UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center. “The amount you drink does make a difference, and I think the message is that consuming less, or no alcohol, is better for you.” 

What Types of Cancer Are Caused by Drinking?  

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s January report, alcohol increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, mouth, throat and laryngeal. The type of alcohol—whether wine, beer or spirits—does not matter; the risk remains. 

“Alcohol is the most lethal drug we have in the region and the world. It kills probably double the number of people who die of an opioid overdose in Vermont,” Dr. Mashkuri notes. “Even when used responsibly, consuming alcohol can come with consequences.” 

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, highlights that alcohol directly contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths annually. Alarmingly, one in six breast cancer cases is attributable to alcohol consumption. 

Alcohol can cause cancer by damaging DNA, altering hormone levels or causing inflammation. Carcinogens from other sources, such as tobacco smoke, can dissolve in alcohol, making them easier for the body to absorb. 

The World Health Organization asserts that there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption. Dr. Murthy recommends that alcoholic beverages carry warning labels similar to those on cigarette packs. 

Reevaluating Your Relationship with Alcohol 

If your alcohol consumption includes an occasional glass of wine with dinner or a margarita on a Friday night with friends, Dr. Mashkuri suggests examining your relationship with alcohol. He says the amount you are drinking is within accepted limits of non-risky alcohol use, yet it could put you at risk for certain cancers.

“People need to be thinking about their alcohol consumption and understanding that there is some risk attached it,” Dr. Mashkuri says. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categories drinkers as follows: 

• Current light drinker: At least 12 drinks in the past year but three drinks or fewer per week, on average. 

• Current moderate drinker: More than three drinks but no more than seven drinks per week for women; more than three drinks but no more than 14 drinks per week for men, on average. 

• Current heavier drinker: More than seven drinks per week for women; more than 14 drinks per week for men, on average. 

Even if you consider yourself a light drinker, Dr. Mashkuri suggests taking an online Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to get a more accurate picture of your drinking habits.  

“You might think the amount you’re drinking is safe, but maybe it’s not,” he says. “For most people drinking within recommended guidelines – one drink or less a day for women and two drinks or less a day for men – your cancer risk is smaller. But that doesn’t mean you’re risk-free.”