Less Alcohol, Lower Cancer Risk, and a Call for Updated Warning Labels

Dry January and Alcohol-Related Cancer Risk

With the new year comes Dry January and a new surgeon general's advisory on alcohol and cancer risk. While moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits, new research shows this isn't true.

"Drinking less is healthier," says Dr. Timothy Naimi.

The U.S. Surgeon General wants to update alcohol warning labels to include cancer risks. Drinking increases the risk of several cancers, including colon, liver, breast, and mouth and throat cancers.

Thousands of U.S. deaths could be prevented if people followed dietary guidelines, which recommend men limit themselves to two drinks or fewer per day and women to one or fewer.

According to the advisory, there are about 100,000 alcohol-related cancer cases and 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths annually in the U.S.

"Less is better when it comes to cancer risk," says Dr. Vivek Murthy.

The idea that moderate drinking is healthy came from flawed studies. People who report drinking moderately tend to be healthier overall, which explains the apparent benefits.

Other studies challenge the idea that alcohol has benefits. These studies compare people with a gene variant that makes drinking unpleasant to those without the variant. People with the variant tend to drink very little or not at all. One study found these people have a lower risk of heart disease, further challenging the idea that alcohol protects against heart problems.

Guidelines vary by country, but the overall trend is toward drinking less. The UK, France, Denmark, Holland, and Australia recently lowered their alcohol consumption recommendations. Ireland will require cancer warning labels on alcohol starting in 2026.

"The scientific consensus has shifted due to the overwhelming evidence linking alcohol to over 200 health conditions," says Carina Ferreira-Borges of the World Health Organization.

The simple message is that if you drink, less is better for your health.