You may have heard at times that there are health benefits to alcohol, particularly for cardiovascular health. And yet there are many stories in the news about how drinking can be bad for your health. It can be confusing!
When it comes to cancer, the evidence is clear. Any amount of any type of alcohol increases your risk of cancer, and alcohol consumption has been linked to 8 specific types of cancer: mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, colorectal, breast, and stomach cancer. With some types of cancers, your risk from the disease increases if you exceed moderate consumption of alcohol. With others, your cancer risk increases by consuming any amount of alcohol.
Still want to have wine with dinner, or beer during the game? Here is the latest recommendation about alcohol consumption from cancer prevention experts.
The American Cancer Society recommends abstaining from alcohol use or limiting consumption: adult males who choose to drink should limit consumption to 2 drinks or fewer per day, and adult females who choose to drink should limit consumption to 1 drink or day or less. Those who are currently undergoing treatment for cancer or have survived cancer should consult their cancer care team about whether or not alcohol is safe to consume.
What is a single serving of alcohol?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In the United States, a standard drink has 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. The amount of pure alcohol in each drink depends on the alcohol content, or percent of alcohol by volume (ABV).”
Illustration source: CDC website
For more information about the connection between alcohol and cancer risk, see the following reliable sources:
American Cancer Society Alcohol Use and Cancer
American Institute of Cancer Research Food Facts: Alcohol
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025): Guidance on Alcoholic Beverages
National Cancer Institute, Alcohol and Cancer Risk
World Cancer Research Fund, Alcohol and Cancer
U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Alcohol and Cancer
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Alcohol and Cancer Risk 2025
Watch this short video about alcohol and cancer risk from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
For a broader conversation about beverages and cancer risk, watch this panel discussion co-sponsored by the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention and the Office of Communications at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
