Alcohol-Linked Cancer Deaths Have Doubled in the US Over Three Decades

Rise in Alcohol-Linked Cancer Deaths Over Three Decades

Annual cancer deaths linked to alcohol consumption climbed significantly across the United States between 1990 and 2023, according to data examined by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers. The findings, initially presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, demonstrate that mortality rates increased across most cancer types, age groups, and regions. Men and adults age 55 and older experienced the greatest overall numerical burden. Geographic disparities also emerged from the data. According to the study, Washington, D.C., recorded the highest alcohol-attributable cancer mortality rates in 2023, while Utah recorded the lowest. Researchers noted that the findings hold particular relevance for states like Florida, which features a large population of older adults—the demographic experiencing the highest mortality rates.

Surprising Patterns in Younger Adults and Specific Cancers

While liver cancer is widely recognized as a consequence of heavy drinking, the study revealed that alcohol contributes substantially to several other malignancies. Among older men, liver cancer accounted for the highest alcohol-attributable mortality rates, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Among women, breast cancer represented the leading source of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality. The study identified concerning trends among younger demographics. Notably, among adults aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality in men and the second leading cause in women, surpassing liver cancer in both groups, said Chinmay Jani, corresponding author of the study and chief fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester. Among women in that same 20-to-54 age group, breast cancer ranked first.

Public Awareness Gaps and Federal Health Advisories

Despite scientific evidence establishing a causal relationship between alcohol and at least seven types of cancer—including breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box—public awareness remains low. Data cited in a U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory indicates that while 72% of U.S. adults reported consuming one or more drinks per week in 2019–2020, less than half of U.S. adults understand the connection between alcohol and cancer risk. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, placing it in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos. According to federal estimates, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, following tobacco and obesity, and contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths annually. What this study makes clear is that alcohol-related cancer risk is not limited to one disease or one group of people, said Gilberto Lopes, senior author of the study and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at Sylvester. Researchers emphasize that alcohol functions as a modifiable risk factor, and that even small changes in consumption may help reduce long-term cancer risk.