US Alcohol-Related Cancer Deaths Have Doubled Since 1990
- Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the United States doubled between 1990 and 2023, rising from about 11,400 to more than 23,100 annual fatalities, according to a study published in...
- The study utilized more than three decades of Global Burden of Disease data to track mortality trends across the country.
- The research identified distinct mortality patterns when broken down by gender and age groups.
Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the United States doubled between 1990 and 2023, rising from about 11,400 to more than 23,100 annual fatalities, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas. Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, found that the public health burden extends far beyond liver cancer, with increases in deaths tied to breast, colorectal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
Broad Impact Across Multiple Cancer Types
The study utilized more than three decades of Global Burden of Disease data to track mortality trends across the country. While public awareness often connects alcohol consumption primarily to liver disease, investigators noted that the beverage contributes significantly to several other malignancies. 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.
“The most surprising finding was the breadth of alcohol’s potential impact across cancer types,” explained Chinmay Jani, M.D., chief fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester and the study’s corresponding author, as highlighted in university reports. “Although its relationship with liver cancer is widely recognized, its contribution to cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer is less well understood by the public.”
Mortality Patterns Among Men and Women
The research identified distinct mortality patterns when broken down by gender and age groups. Liver cancer was responsible for the highest rates of alcohol-attributable mortality among older men, with esophageal and colorectal cancers coming in next. Among women, breast cancer represented the leading source of alcohol-related cancer mortality.
Shifting trends emerged among younger adults aged 20 to 54. For men in this younger cohort, colorectal cancer emerged as the leading alcohol-attributable cause of cancer death. For women aged 20 to 54, breast cancer ranked first, with colorectal cancer ranking second. According to Dr. Jani, colorectal cancer surpassed liver cancer as the leading cause of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality in men and the second leading cause in women within this younger age group.
Geographic Variations and Public Health Response
Geographic data from the study revealed substantial variation in mortality rates. In 2023, Washington, D.C., recorded the highest alcohol-attributable cancer mortality rates, while Utah recorded the lowest. Researchers noted that older adults experienced the highest alcohol-attributable cancer mortality rates, giving the findings particular relevance for states like Florida that maintain large populations of older residents.
“The findings reinforce the importance of giving people clear information about lifestyle factors that influence cancer risk,” said Gilberto Lopes, M.D., senior author and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Miller School, in university materials. The study authors emphasize that alcohol remains a potentially modifiable risk factor for cancer, pointing toward potential prevention strategies as public health agencies review the three-decade upward trajectory.