The link between cancer and alcohol

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

[3 MIN READ]

Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, coming in after tobacco use and obesity, according to a recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General.
Increasing your alcohol consumption increases your risk for most cancers. However, with some cancers, the risk goes up with even one drink per day.
A family medicine doctor at Swedish talks about the link between cancer and alcohol and offers tips to help reduce your drinking or eliminate it altogether.

Alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of cancer in the United States, coming in third after tobacco and obesity, according to a recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General. Although nearly 72% of U.S. adults report consuming an average of one or more drinks a week, less than half the population is aware of the link between alcohol and cancer risk.

And that poses a serious health risk. According to the report, alcohol use contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. In general, your risk increases the more you drink. However, for some cancers, the risk increases with one or fewer drinks a day.

We talked to Bill Quach, M.D., a family medicine specialist at Swedish Bellevue Primary Care, about “moderate” alcohol consumption, how it increases the risk of cancer and practical strategies to reduce or quit drinking. Here’s what he shared.

How much is too much?

How much alcohol is “safe” to consume if you want to minimize your health risks but don’t want to give up drinking altogether?

“It depends,” says Dr. Quach. “It’s tricky to define because the risks associated with drinking depend on multiple factors. We can start by defining ‘moderate’ drinking. In the United States: one standard drink contains about 14 grams of alcohol. That’s roughly 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.”

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that if you drink alcohol, you should limit the amount to two drinks or less in one day if you’re a man, and one drink or less in a day if you’re a woman.

Moderate drinking is defined as:

For women: up to 1 drink per day, no more than 3 drinks in a single day, and no more than 7 drinks per week.
For men: up to 2 drinks per day, no more than 4 in a single day, and no more than 14 drinks per week.
For adults over 65: 1 drink or less per day and no more than 7 drinks per week.

“Anything beyond those thresholds is considered heavy drinking,” says Dr. Quach. “And that’s where it gets complicated. Even drinking within those moderate limits can pose health risks.”

How does alcohol cause cancer?

The surgeon general’s report indicates the more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer.

“Alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a compound that damages DNA. It also induces oxidative stress, alters hormone levels and can make your body absorb other carcinogens – like those from tobacco – more easily,” says Dr. Quach.

According to the National Cancer Institute, consuming alcohol increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, including:

Head and neck cancers, including oral cavity, pharynx and larynx cancers
Esophageal cancer
Liver cancer
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer

Reducing your risk

Minor changes to your drinking habits can make a big difference. These tips from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism can help you get started.

Keep track. Keep a record of how much you drink to get an accurate assessment of your alcohol consumption. Choose whatever method works best for you – whether it's an app on your smartphone or tally marks on your kitchen calendar.
Measure and count. Know standard drink sizes so you can accurately gauge how much alcohol you’re consuming.
Plan ahead. Set goals for how many days a week you want to drink and how much alcohol you’d like to consume. Ideally, you’ll have some days where you don’t drink at all.
Avoid your triggers. If certain activities, people or locations prompt drinking, take a break from them until they’re no longer an issue. Don't keep alcohol at home if you tend to increase your alcohol use while there.
Have your “no” ready. Come up with a polite way to say “no thank you” when you’re offered a drink and then use it regularly. Answering with minimal fuss is easier if you have a pre-planned response.

A wide range of resources are available to help you cut down your alcohol consumption or quit drinking completely, according to Dr. Quach.

“I always recommend my patients reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. Even small reductions can lower health risks,” he explains.

“There are behavioral strategies, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, therapy options and even medications that can help. Resources from organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can also provide practical tips,” adds Dr. Quach. “Primary care providers are a great place to start. For example, Swedish has behavioral health teams and addiction medicine specialists who can help.”

Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)

Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician. You can also connect virtually with your doctor to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual, you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.

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