Recent research suggests that over 5% of all cancer cases are associated with alcohol consumption, according to the 2024 Cancer Progress Report by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Alcohol ranks third among risk factors for cancer, following obesity and cigarette smoking. The lead author of the report, Rajarshi Sengupta, Ph.D., highlighted that excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of six types of cancer, such as certain forms of head and neck cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as breast, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers. By limiting or eliminating alcohol intake, individuals can reduce the risk of alcohol-related cancers by 8% and the risk of all cancers by 4%.

Dr. Adam Scioli, an addiction psychiatrist from Caron Treatment Centers, pointed out the changing perceptions of alcohol's impact on health. While previous reports may have suggested potential health benefits, it is now known that alcohol intake is a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Data from the AACR reveals that 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers each year. Scioli highlighted that the risk escalates with the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed, emphasizing that alcohol is a toxin with detrimental effects on various organs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines moderate alcohol consumption as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men. Nevertheless, the CDC cautions that even low levels of alcohol use can heighten the risk of certain cancers. Despite the widely recognized link between tobacco and cancer, public awareness regarding alcohol's contribution to cancer risk remains lacking, with 51% of Americans reported to be unaware of this connection.

Scioli stressed the importance of increasing public awareness and suggested that reducing alcohol consumption could help lower the risk of cancer. "We need to enhance efforts to inform the public about the risks associated with alcohol consumption.""Inherent risks associated with alcohol consumption," he stated. Sengupta emphasized the need for public awareness campaigns and cancer-specific caution labels on alcoholic drinks. She also highlighted the importance of implementing effective clinical interventions to decrease alcohol intake. Focus on Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month: Identifying risk factors and early symptoms.