Before you pour that next glass of wine or beer, remember that you may be raising your long-term cancer risks. Alcohol is known to be a carcinogen, a cancer-causing agent.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), alcohol use has been shown to have links to head, mouth and throat, esophagus, liver, colorectal, and stomach cancers. It has also been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer in women. There is also evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of prostate and pancreatic cancer.
They estimate that 5.5 percent of new cancer diagnoses and 5.8 percent of cancer deaths worldwide are attributable to alcohol consumption. While data suggests that Caucasians consume more alcoholic beverages than any other racial and ethnic group in the US, Black Americans have a greater rate of alcohol-related cancers.
Jennifer Edwards Johnson, DO, MPH, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, says, “We have known for a while that moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to cancer.” According to Dr. Edwards Johnson, the more drinks consumed seem to have more impact on risks than the type of liquor you drink. The NCI data suggests that all alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, are linked with cancer. Their studies show that just one drink a day can raise your risks. Data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that nearly 5.5 percent of all new cancer diagnoses and 5.8 percent of all deaths from cancer can be attributed to alcohol consumption.
How Much is Too Much?
Dr. Edwards Johnson says the standard consumption for women is one drink per day. Two drinks per day is considered standard consumption for men. “Nothing is risk-free,” she adds. Dr. Edwards Johnson says that the risks are less associated with the kind of alcohol consumed and more tied to the amount and frequency over time.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard alcoholic drink in the United States contains 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 8–10 ounces of malt liquor
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces, or a “shot,” of 80-proof distilled spirits (liquor)
However, the level of consumption and frequency can raise a woman’s risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a man and woman drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman will usually have a higher blood alcohol level. And not only do women typically experience the immediate effects of alcohol more quickly than men.
But stopping cold turkey won’t necessarily stop your cancer risks—at least not right away. Most studies found that stopping alcohol consumption is not a guarantee of immediate reductions in cancer risk. It may take years for the risks of cancer to return to those of never-drinkers.
If you want to reduce your risks, Dr. Edwards Johnson says,” the best thing is to avoid alcohol consumption altogether.” And if that doesn’t suit your lifestyle, she suggests that you “uncouple your drinking from your habits and rituals.” And she says it is essential to look at why you are drinking.
“Some people report that they drink because it helps them relax. For others, it is a part of their culture and socialization,” she says. “You must weigh out the risks versus the benefits of drinking. Dr. Edwards Johnson says that if you can break the habit of moderate to high alcohol consumption, not only will you reduce your cancer risks, “you will also reduce the liquid calories you take in and reduce your risk for diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke as well. “
