A recent study reveals a concerning trend with more than 70 Americans succumbing to alcohol-related cancers each day, highlighting a growing public health crisis.
According to research conducted by the University of Miami, the annual death toll from cancers attributed to alcohol consumption has risen to over 23,200 individuals.
This figure marks a dramatic increase, doubling the number from 1990 when approximately 11,900 people died from such cancers.
The study identified Washington D.C. as the most affected area, attributed to its high levels of binge drinking. Texas and Hawaii also reported significant numbers of alcohol-related cancer deaths.
In contrast, Utah reported the lowest rate of alcohol-related cancer fatalities, a trend likely influenced by the state’s large Mormon population, which traditionally abstains from alcohol.
Liver cancer remains the most prevalent type of cancer linked to alcohol consumption, followed by colon and esophageal cancers.
Dr Gilberto Lopes, an oncologist and co-author of the research, said: ‘Alcohol is a leading preventable [cancer] risk factor. It’s not about prohibition, it’s more about prevention.
‘Increasing awareness and targeted policies will help us prevent multiple cancer cases and, therefore, reduce cancer mortality.’
Officials have long warned of a link between alcohol and cancer, noting that the body breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
Last year, the US surgeon general stressed that alcohol was the third leading cause of preventable cancer, behind tobacco and obesity, and caused nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths per year. Vivek Murphy called for stronger health warnings, including potential cancer labels on alcohol products.
The US dietary guidelines have also shifted their position. Previously, they said it was safe to consume no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women.
In the updated guidelines released in January, however, they urged Americans to consume ‘less alcohol for better overall health’. Both Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr say they are tee-total.
Other countries have gone further, including Canada; which now says people should not consume more than two alcoholic drinks per week.
The recommendations have ignited a ferocious debate around alcohol. Many public health experts argue that drinking raises the risk of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and liver disease, among other complications. Others have countered, however, that the risk from drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is small, and herald drink as a ‘social lubricant’ that brings people together.
The new study was first revealed at ASCO in 2025, the largest medical conference in the world.
It has since been published as an abstract in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, but has not gone through the traditional peer-review process, where other scientists go over the research to find errors.
A young group of friends pictured enjoying a beverage (stock image)
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project — a UN-backed database that tracks causes of death worldwide, including those linked to alcohol. It compared data from 2021, the latest year available at the time of the study, to 1990.
To estimate how many cancer deaths were caused by alcohol, the database uses a complex statistical model to calculate the fatalities.
In the study’s analysis, researchers split cancer deaths between men and women.
Among men, the team found the alcohol-associated cancer death rate was highest in Washington DC, at 10 deaths per 100,000 males.
Texas had the second-highest rate, at 7.5, and Hawaii had the third-highest, at 7.2.
Among women, Washington DC also had the highest rate of cancer deaths linked to alcohol – with 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 females.
But its other states differed. The second-highest cancer death rate for women was recorded in New Hampshire, at three, followed by Maryland, at 2.75.
DC may rank top because it is among the areas with the highest levels of binge drinking and heavy drinking in the nation.
A 2023 CDC study, for example, found that 27.2 percent of adults in the district reported binge drinking, outranking all other states.
It is also home to the nation’s capital and a high concentration of wealthy individuals and young professionals, who may more commonly indulge in an alcoholic beverage.
Among both men and women, at the other end of the scale, Utah had the lowest overall fatality rate from alcohol-linked cancers.
This was likely because it has a large population of Mormons – whose scripture prohibits the consumption of alcohol of any kind.
The age someone is when they drink alcohol also affects their risk of suffering from cancer due to the alcohol. A night of heavy drinking at 51 is very different than at 21.
While experts say damage done from alcohol is cumulative over a lifetime, there are certain effects people will experience in each decade of life.
At middle age – around the ages of 35 to 50 years old – the health effects of drinking begin to emerge, including cancer, heart disease and liver disease.
In middle age, the body is less able to process alcohol, meaning it could linger in the body longer, doing more damage. Alcoholic beverages may also lead to more blood sugar issues the older a person is and worsen high blood pressure.
People often begin taking medications in middle age, such as for cholesterol, blood pressure or heart function. Mixing these with alcohol can cause serious complications, including excessive or internal bleeding.
While experts advise it’s best to never start drinking, the earlier you stop, the better.
Overall, colon cancer proportionally saw the sharpest rise in alcohol-linked cancer deaths over the 30-year period of the study – rising 32 percent from 4.92 to 6.5 alcohol-related cancer deaths per 100,000 people.
Esophageal cancer saw the second largest rise, up by 20.1 percent, while pharynx cancers saw the third highest rise, up by 18.3 percent.
Colon cancer cases are rising among young adults, with some suggesting this could be linked to alcohol consumption – although this is falling in younger age groups.
Studies suggest that people who develop colon cancer may have a less diverse microbiome, with this raising the risk of inflammation, potentially raising the risk of cancer.
The esophagus and larynx come into direct contact with alcohol when someone drinks, which may raise the risk of the cancer, and the substance is broken down in the liver and passes through the colon, also raising the risk of cancer.
Dr Chinmay Jani, an oncologist who also led the research, said: ‘These state-by-state differences really highlight how much local culture, policy, and access to care shape outcomes.
‘What stood out was the rise in states like Tennessee and New Mexico, where previous studies have shown higher alcohol use.
‘It reinforces the need for targeted awareness and interventions in these areas – starting local can pave the way for broader, national efforts.’
Those aged between 35 and 54 maintained a higher drinking rate, at 69 percent. Between 2001 and 2003, 67 percent of this age group said they were drinking
The study also found that cancer-related alcohol deaths were rising among men, but falling among women.
It estimated over the study period, these rose by 10 percent in men – but declined 14 percent in women. Overall, women accounted for a much lower proportion of deaths.
Surveys suggest that 62 percent of Americans drink alcohol, while 38 percent say they abstain completely.
Among drinkers, the average American consumes about 2.83 gallons of pure alcohol per year – equivalent to about 600 cocktails or pints of beer per year. Sixty-nine percent say they consumed alcohol within the last week.
Estimates suggest about 61.4million people aged 12 and up binge drink, defined as drinking four or more drinks on an occasion for women, and five or more for men.
In 2021, liver cancer caused by alcohol was linked to 7,408 deaths every year.
In the same year, colon cancer was linked to 4,687 deaths, while esophageal cancers were linked to 3,948 deaths.
The team also detected that alcohol-linked deaths were rising faster among over-50s, surging by 16 percent compared to 7.8 percent among younger adults.
This didn’t include deaths in accidents or car crashes that may also be linked to alcohol consumption.
For decades, studies suggested there was some benefit to drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, which was thought to be linked to its destressing effects.
But in recent years, research has swung the other way.
Many studies have since shown that consuming alcohol in any amount raises the risk of everything from cancer to heart disease, liver disease and high blood pressure.
The US is currently considering its new dietary guidelines, which will set a recommended level for alcohol consumption.
Current guidelines state that men should not consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day, while women should not consume more than one a day.
It is not clear what the new guidelines may recommend, with recent reports suggesting the Trump administration is considering shelving the document entirely.
