More dying from drinking booze than ever - and one group is most at risk
Alcohol-related cancer deaths have nearly doubled over the past three decades, and according to new research, one part of the population is significantly more at risk
A new study has revealed a troubling rise in alcohol-related cancer deaths.
According to the research, these deaths have nearly doubled across the United States — from 12,000 in 1990 to over 23,000 in 2021. The findings, set to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, identify one part of the population as being most at risk.
Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been linked to at least six types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast. Even moderate drinking increases cancer risk, challenging the common belief that light alcohol use is safe.
Despite the evidence, public awareness remains low. A 2024 report from the American Association for Cancer Research found that while over 5% of all cancer cases are linked to alcohol, 51% of Americans are unaware of this connection.
While alcohol-related cancer deaths among women rose just 8% during the above period, men experienced a staggering 56% increase, and men aged 55 and older are the most vulnerable group.
'It wasn't surprising that the rates were higher in men, but the magnitude of the difference was unexpected,' said lead author Dr. Chinmay Jani, chief fellow of hematology and oncology at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, in an interview with NBC News.
Researchers suggest this gender gap may be due to men starting to drink at earlier ages, allowing alcohol's long-term carcinogenic effects to accumulate over time.
'The impact of alcohol may not be immediate, but with age and continued consumption, its cancer-causing potential builds up,' Jani explained.
In light of the data, health officials are pushing for stronger warning labels on alcoholic beverages and expanded public education campaigns.
'We need to raise awareness of this link — not only among the public but also within the medical community,' Jani emphasised. 'People are well-informed about tobacco and cancer, but alcohol is often overlooked.'
Meanwhile, Cancer Research UK has conducted analysis on UK skin cancer data, which suggests that the way people dress when they're in the sun could be influencing where they get melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer.
Data from 2018 to 2021 shows that 40% of melanomas in men were diagnosed on the torso (the back, chest and stomach) – more than any other part of the body. That translates to around 3,700 cases of skin cancer every year.
In women, the most common area was the lower limbs (from the hips to the feet). More than a third of women's melanomas were diagnosed here – around 3,200 cases a year.
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