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Before people in the U.S. in the 1960's stopped smoking in great numbers, they needed to hear how it caused cancer, not once, but in several studies. In 2025, the same thing is happening with research that shows that drinking alcohol increases the rates of cancer.

The latest study "Escalating Impact of Alcohol-Related Cancer Mortality in the U..S.: A Call for Action," published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology in May 2025, reinforces what has been written about before: consumption of alcohol greatly heightens the chances of being diagnosed with cancer. The study was written by cancer doctors from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Fl..

Indeed it cites that already the U.S. Surgeon General in January 2025 recommended adding cancer risk warning labels to alcoholic beverages, just as cigarette packets carry these labels.

But the latest study uncovers new ground by analyzing mortality rates and showing that drinking alcohol not only leads to liver cancer, but to breast, colorectal, and lip-oral cavity cancer. The results revealed that in the U.S. from 1990 to 2021 alcohol-related deaths doubled. The 55-plus age group showed a significantly higher mortality rate than those aged 20-54.

To improve this situation in the future, it recommended "targeted prevention efforts, public health policies, and increased awareness to address the rising impact of alcohol consumption on cancer-related mortality."

Alcohol consumption is down, but negligibly. A Northwell Health report said in 2022 American's alcohol consumption decreased by 1.2% from the previous year.

When Jurgen Rehm, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, was asked in a NY Times "Ask Well" column which type of alcohol is least harmful, he replied, "Alcohol is alcohol," suggesting all alcohol is harmful.

Here's what Dr. Chinmay Jani, the lead author of the "Escalating Impact" study and a clinical fellow at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, specializing in hematology and oncology, said about it in a Q&A.

Question: This is the second or third study linking alcohol consumption to cancer and yet bars are packed, liquor sales are down but minimally. Why isn't the U.S. getting the message that drinking alcohol is dangerous?

Dr. Jani: First and foremost, awareness is not there enough. This is the second or third study, and our study showed that drinking alcohol is linked to multiple cancers and not just liver cancer. Any time we want to deliver that message, we need more and more evidence. Until we have more evidence to deliver that message strongly, the awareness, even by the doctors, won't be strong enough.,

Question: What is the status of the Surgeon General's recommendation that a warning label be placed be placed on alcohol beverages?

Dr. Jani: That gave us an idea to look into that data and that's how we did the study. There aren't enough warning labels on liquor bottles because people aren't receptive unless we create more evidence and do further studies.

Question: Your study relied on mortality death rates. Why?

Dr. Jani: First and foremost, that was the data that was available. Once we have the data, the next step is to do a prospective study, where we can see direct impact on the patients.

Question: Based on this study, what would you recommend most people do about consuming alcohol?

Dr. Jani: My main recommendation is that whenever you're drinking alcohol, it is a carcinogen, a chemical that can lead to cancer. The data is coming out more and more showcasing that alcohol can have a harmful effect similar to tobacco.

Question: Would you recommend cutting down or cutting out alcohol?

Dr. Jani: Cutting down on alcohol. We don't yet know the quantative impact of alcohol on cancer. We don't yet know the exact number of how much alcohol is safe to drink. Whether you're drinking every day or abstaining for 5 days, and then suddenly drinking, alcohol is harmful for you.

Question: Stated simply, why does alcohol increase the chances of getting cancer?

Dr. Jani: One mechanism is that alcohol gets converted into acetaldehyde, or is broken into different chemicals because it is a toxic carcinogen and damaging to the DNA in our body. Alcohol can also modulate hormonal pathways especially in estrogen and metabolism, which can increase alcohol's impact on cancer in females.

Question: Most people who drink are considered cool, and most who don't are viewed as straight-laced or teetotalers. What's wrong with this picture?

Dr. Jani: One thing I would say, healthy lifestyles is a boon to health. More and more people are becoming conscious of their mental health. All of these different addictions are extremely harmful to people. And with people who are health-conscious, the amount of alcohol or any other addiction is extremely low.

Question: Smoking, for most people, is considered risky and dangerous and increasing your chances of getting cancer and reducing longevity. Should alcohol be viewed in the same way?

Dr. Jani: When data came in that tobacco is a risk factor, it took almost a decade to get it out to the public. Hence, we need more data about alcohol's effect.

Question: What would you tell your son or daughter about drinking alcohol?

Dr. Jani: In our study, elderly people have 7 times the risk of alcohol inducing cancer than younger people. The more you drink, the effects will come later at older age.

Question: The people who drink in excess like 3 or 4 beers or glasses of wine a night when going to dinner or a bar. What would you say to them?

Dr. Jani: That you're inviting cancer into your life.