Key TakeawaysAlcohol consumption is linked to six types of cancer, including breast and liver cancers, yet awareness of this connection remains low.Stronger warning labels on alcohol could help reduce alcohol-related cancer risks, researchers say.Public health messaging around alcohol is complex due to varying risk levels and lingering perceptions of alcohol’s health benefits.

Key Takeaways

Alcohol consumption is linked to six types of cancer, including breast and liver cancers, yet awareness of this connection remains low.Stronger warning labels on alcohol could help reduce alcohol-related cancer risks, researchers say.Public health messaging around alcohol is complex due to varying risk levels and lingering perceptions of alcohol’s health benefits.

Could adding cancer-specific warning labels to alcoholic beverages help deter excessive alcohol consumption?

One study cited in the AACR report found that alcohol contributes to 5.4% of cancer diagnoses,building on decades of research linking alcohol to various cancers. The National Cancer Institute also states that there’s “a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer.”

According to the AACR report, alcohol is linked to six types of cancer, including breast, liver, esophageal, stomach, bladder, and several types of head and neck cancers.

“Raising awareness of risk factors for cancer and how to modify that risk is critical,” saidMatthew Kalady, MD, chief of colorectal cancer surgery at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital.

Why Is Cancer Rising In Young Adults?

Should Alcohol Have Stronger Health Warning Labels?

The AACR report suggests that stronger warning labels on alcohol, along with effective clinical strategies, could help “reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers.”

In 2026, theRepublic of Ireland will add warning labelslinking alcohol to cancer, and several other countries are considering similar measures.

While no official changes have been announced in the U.S.,Statreported that the Tax and Trade Bureau had discussed strengthening alcohol warning labels to include more health risk information. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services include alcohol consumption limits in theDietary Guidelines for Americans, additional health warnings about alcohol could be added when the guidelines are updated in 2025. Recommendation updates are expected this December.

The Impact of Alcohol on Your Body

Why Is It Hard to Add Cancer-Specific Warnings to Alcohol?

While the evidence on the link between alcohol and cancer is compelling, public health messaging on alcohol is challenging, saidTimothy Rebbeck, PhD, an epidemiologist who specializes in cancer prevention at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

In contrast, tobacco’s direct link to lung cancer made warning labels on cigarettes highly effective, Rebbeck explained. With alcohol, the relationship is more complex, as factors like DNA damage, hormone changes, and inflammation—either individually or together—are still being studied for their role in cancer development.

A complicating factor, Rebbekh added, “is that we used to believe that drinking alcohol in moderation. Red wine, in particular, had cardiovascular benefits. More recent studies, however, have found that the heart health benefit attributed to wine might actually be a result of some people having healthier lifestyles and higher incomes.”

He said that if cancer warnings are added to alcoholic beverages, they need to be done in a way that’s perceived as a health message and “not the government trying to control your life.”

This is why public education about the link between cancer and alcohol, along with other health risks, is so important, Rebbekh said. “When it comes to alcohol, we should be aware of the risks so that we can mitigate them," he added.

What This Means For YouIf you consume alcohol, it’s important to be aware of the cancer risks associated with it. While guidelines may evolve to include stronger warnings, making informed decisions about your alcohol intake can help lower your risk.

What This Means For You

If you consume alcohol, it’s important to be aware of the cancer risks associated with it. While guidelines may evolve to include stronger warnings, making informed decisions about your alcohol intake can help lower your risk.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association for Cancer Research.AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024.Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.Alcohol and cancer risk.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association for Cancer Research.AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024.Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.Alcohol and cancer risk.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Association for Cancer Research.AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024.Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.Alcohol and cancer risk.

American Association for Cancer Research.AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024.

Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858

National Cancer Institute.Alcohol and cancer risk.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?