Alcohol causes 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. annually

Smoking often gets the attention, but new research shows alcohol is one of leading causes of preventable cancer deaths in the U.S.

A new study published in the April 2013 issue of the American Journal of Public Health shows that about 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. a year -- about 3.5 percent of all cancer-related deaths -- are caused by alcohol consumption.

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Alcohol Linked To Cancer?

"The relationship between alcohol and cancer is strong, but is not widely appreciated by the public and remains underemphasized even by physicians," senior author Dr. Timothy Naimi, an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said in a press release. "Alcohol is a big preventable cancer risk factor that has been hiding in plain sight."

The World Health Organization has labeled alcohol as the world's third largest risk factor for disease burden, saying it can cause neuropsychiatric disorders and other chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cirrhosis of the liver and various cancers. It added that 30 percent of cancer deaths are caused by five behavioral and dietary factors, including high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol use.

Previous studies have shown that drinking alcohol can increase risk factors cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast, the study authors noted. Other worldwide statistics show that alcohol is a cause for about 4 percent of cancer deaths worldwide, but before this study, not that much research has focused on the U.S.

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The study authors conducted their analysis by looking at sales-based data on per capita alcohol consumption and two national surveys that looked at alcohol usage. They also considered U.S. mortality data from 2009, specifically looking for deaths from the seven cancers known to be associated with alcohol use that were listed above.

They found that 18,178 to 21,284 alcohol-attributable cancer deaths occurred in 2009, making up 3.2 percent to 3.7 percent of all cancer deaths.

Researchers determined that alcohol-related cancer death took away an average of 18 potential years from a person's life. Average consumption for the group was 1.5 drinks a day or less, and those drinkers made up 30 percent of the reported deaths. Larger amounts of alcohol led to higher risks of dying from cancer. Forty-eight to 60 percent of the deaths were attributed to people who drank three or more drinks a day.

"When it comes to alcohol consumption and cancers, clearly excessive drinking is the riskiest type of drinking," Naimi said to CBS station WBZ in Boston. "But when it comes to cancer, there is no safe level of alcohol consumption."

In addition to figuring out how many cancer deaths were related to alcohol, researchers also determined that breast cancer was the most common type of drinking-related deaths in women. This form of cancer alone made up 15 percent of the alcohol-related deaths, amounting to 6,000 women annually.

For men, mouth, throat and esophageal cancers were the most common alcohol-associated deaths, making up about 6,000 deaths annually.

Naimi recommended to Prevention that people not start drinking, and if they do they should definitely cut down "plain and simple."

"The purpose of this study is not to stigmatize moderate drinking, and I apologize if this makes people feel bummed out," Naimi said to Prevention. "But it is important for people to know that yes, alcohol is a carcinogen, and it does increase your risk. That's the bottom line."

[macwiseguy]

I really would like to see more specifics on this study. I went to the journal and it just gives their results and not specific methodology. Their stated goal was to find alcohol related cancer deaths and with that you are bound to find what you set out to or you wouldn't get funded for your next research project. I believe that independent scientists need to review this study as many questions remain. I enjoy a glass or 2 of wine a day and occasional cocktail, but I don't believe that pattern will cause me to loose up to 18 years of my life. Obviously genes are at play here. Some, perhaps 30% of the respondents are less likely to be able to process alcohol effectively in the liver. That percentage or higher is the amount of Asians who are genetically unable to process alcohol at all. Were ethnics and pre-disposed genetic patterns taken into consideration? Variables like heavy drinkers usually don't have a great diet and smoke factored? Until more clarity is given this study should be a cautionary tale of "wait till all the evidence is agreed upon in all of science" and not a few scientists with a goal and a a few trying to be published to make name for themselves.

[js555554]

First step for a new tax is all. As usual, it will play out as such;

The tax is to save lives by making people slow down or stop drinking. Saving us billions in public medical costs.

The tax will generate $XX billion over X time. Which we sill use to combat Alcoholism. (But actually the money will never be used for that)

When the tax has it's stated effect, makes people cut back or stop drinking, and the expect revenue doesn't happen. Then we'll need to raise taxes on something else to make up for the short fall.

But all is not gloom. In the end the governments drive to get another revenue stream, I mean protect the population from itself will open many new doors for the opportunistic among us to supply the black market with cheap liquor. Kind of makes you thing about the 1920's and Prohibition now, doesn't it? Lot of people got rich then.

[cntrygirl3]

So is the incidence of these cancers much higher in the countries like, Italy, France, Spain and Germany where wine or beer is consumed daily with lunch and dinner and children regularly drink wine at dinner with their parents from the time they start eating from a plate at the table. And then of course there are all of these studies as JeFF referred to above that the moderate consumption of wine can prevent heart disease. Excessive alcohol like excessive anything is bad. So thank you I will continue to have my wine with dinner, I guess since my family dies most commonly of heart disease and not cancer I am improving my odds.

[sepa2]

Smoking often gets the attention, but new research shows alcohol is one of leading causes of preventable cancer deaths in the U.S - because media and city, city and state government gets lot of revenue from alcohol

[cntrygirl3]

They get lots of revenue from cigarettes as well.

[Moatfrog]

The glamor of an imported (Mexican) beer advertised by a well manicured and older man is an all too common practice of the alcohol industry to sell its beverages. It makes it stylish! There is nothing stylish about the cancers behind this stuff nor the heart break that it's often behind broken marriages, lost jobs, and so on.

Lecturing the drunk is not my interest. Instead, my interest is in those with the fortitude to attend AA meetings, visits with psychologists, or just talking with your priest, minister, or other religious official. For the timid, with strict determination, there is the possibility of self directed abstinence. I have chosen to go this tough route by immediate withdrawal of all beer and cocktail consumption without a group looking over my shoulder. Will it continue to work? I strongly believe so. The chance of relapse is huge, but it remains a viable choice.

[robintoledo]

We have smoking bans in bars...now we can have alcohol bans in bars. I'm sure the do-gooder Nazis will find a way.

[Goldwater64s6]

I`ll drink to that but, I`ll drink to anything.

[magnumdr]

Tax it like you did to the cigarettes and don't complain that it isn't fair either!

[Non-Political]

mag,

I'll go one step further and give them the advice they constantly told smokers - "If you don't like the tax on cigarettes then simply quit smoking." How about "If you don't like an increase in taxes on booze like that on cigarettes then simply quit.".

We should do what Britian has done. They are trying to decrease the number of alcohol related deaths in accidents. What they came up with has reduced the accident rate by 30%. What is that magic bullet? Raise the tax on booze. Works there.

Of course that wouldn't work here because more drunks vote then voters who smoked and politicians suck up to the majority, health be damned. Plus the politicians wouldn't be able to stand all the whinning they would have to listen to from all the poeple who would think the tax increases are UNFAIR.

Shoe could be on the other foot now couldn't it suckers? See how you like it.

[TRUTH-FACTS]

I am amazed of so many ignorant comments here. This is about your health and living longer to see your grand children. Of course, we all die some day but leaving too early would leave your loved ones heart broken and in some cases impoverished if you are the sole bread-winner.

[Non-Political]

truth,

They wouldn't know what to do without their beloved booze; loved ones be damned. Your argument would and is falling on deaf ears.

[BigBlivefromny]

Waaaaa, waaaaaa, waaaaa! TRUTH FACTS: the facts are we are becoming a nation of whimpy fat slugs. Witness the report yesterday of how the 'Baby-Boom' generation is not as healthy as their parents generation. Why? because we sit on our keisters and induldge in social media, games, TV and eat like pigs, and yes, probably drink A LOT more than our parents did,(in some cases). This is because we are total SLAVES to mass consumerism and advertising. Nobody has common sense anymore, and ask me if i care if you don't live to see your grandkids grown up if you are too stupid to eat and drink healthy...that's natural selection, there's too damn many people anyway!!!!!!

[sugarsail]

Life causes death 100% of the time and is sexually transmitted so drink up.