Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the United States doubled between 1990 and 2023, according to a study led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas, highlight alcohol as a potentially modifiable cancer risk factor whose impact extends beyond liver cancer.
The study utilized more than three decades of Global Burden of Disease data, finding that annual alcohol-attributable cancer deaths rose from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023. Men and adults age 55 and older experienced the greatest burden, though increases were observed across most cancer types, age groups, and regions.
Among older men, liver cancer accounted for the highest alcohol-attributable mortality rates, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. Among women, breast cancer was the leading source of alcohol-attributable cancer mortality. In younger adults aged 20 to 54, colorectal cancer was the leading alcohol-attributable cause of cancer death for men and the second leading cause for women, surpassing liver cancer in both groups.
The research noted significant geographic variation in 2023, with Washington, D.C., recording the highest alcohol-attributable cancer mortality rates, while Utah recorded the lowest.
Dr. Chinmay Jani, the corresponding author of the study, noted that while the relationship with liver cancer is widely recognized, the contribution of alcohol to cancers such as colorectal, esophageal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancer is less understood by the public.
Dr. Gilberto Lopes, a senior author and chief of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Miller School, stated that the findings reinforce the importance of providing clear information about lifestyle factors that influence cancer risk. He noted that small, informed changes in alcohol use could be part of a broader strategy to reduce cancer risk.
