Most people will agree that overindulging in alcohol is bad for health, but with it being such a normalised part of our social lives, celebrations and overall culture, most of us don’t question the effect that one or two drinks could have.
Recommended government limits lure us into a false sense of security – as long as we don’t go over the limit, we won’t suffer any health complications, right? Well, new research is making us question this belief.
The World Health Organisation has declared alcohol as a group 1 carcinogen, which means we may need to rethink how we view alcohol and consume it, but public awareness in the UK is low. When surveyed, only 1 in 10 adults were aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.
Europe has the highest alcohol consumption level, which puts over 200 million people at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer.[1]
It’s official – alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen, which places this treasured national treat in the same cancer-causing category as tobacco, radiation and asbestos, after strong scientific evidence shows that it causes cancer in humans[2].
Carcinogens are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) into groups. Group 1 poses the highest risk, and group 3 the lowest risk:
These groups are designed to help us understand the risks of cancer-causing substances and materials, and are decided by scientific agencies informed by critical reviews of human studies, animal testing and DNA research.
Alcohol is a toxic substance which damages the body in many ways. When your body struggles to remove this toxin and is unable to repair itself from the harm, cancer can develop. There are a few theories about how alcohol causes cancer.
When alcohol is broken down in the body, it produces acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde damages DNA and prevents cells from repairing themselves properly. It can also raise oestrogen levels, which may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Alcohol irritates and inflames tissues such as the mouth, throat and oesophagus. This damage can make it easier for carcinogens to penetrate cells. Heavy drinking can impair the body’s ability to absorb nutrients such as folate, which helps protect against cancer.
Each of these damaging effects can lead to a different type of cancer.
Alcohol and cancer risks share a strong link. 1 in 25 new cancer cases globally associated with alcohol. In 2020, over 740,300 new cancer cases were attributed to alcohol.[3]
Research shows alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer:
The World Health Organisation has released a statement in The Lancet Public Health to say there is no safe limit for alcohol.
This is because research increasingly shows that no amount of alcohol is completely safe when it comes to cancer risk – which means any beverage containing alcohol no matter the price or quality.
In fact the latest data shows that half of all cancers attributable to alcohol are caused by light to moderate consumption. That’s as little as around 6 pints of beer, 8 glasses of wine or 12 shots of spirit a week.
There used to be a myth that a glass of red wine is good for you, but this has been debunked. All types of wine increase cancer risk. In fact, studies show that women who have just one glass of wine a day have higher rates of breast cancer than those who have less than one drink a week.[4]
Many public health guidelines refer to low-risk drinking limits, but these limits are designed to reduce harm, not eliminate it.
However, cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Light to moderate drinking is still safer than heavy drinking.
Alcohol-related harm is preventable. Your best chances of protecting yourself against alcohol-related cancer risks are to quit, but reducing consumption still lowers your risk. Even small reductions in alcohol intake can have a positive impact on your overall health.
The benefits of reducing your alcohol consumption include:
Some people find it very difficult to cut down or stop drinking because regular use can cause alcohol dependence. This happens when the brain and body adjust to relying on alcohol to function normally.
In extreme cases of alcohol addiction, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous because of alcohol withdrawal symptoms like seizures.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use, book an appointment with your GP. It’s important to have a health assessment and understand what your options are before taking the next step towards finding a treatment centre.
There are plenty of charity-funded alcohol rehab programmes that can support you at no cost. Alcoholics Anonymous, Change, Grow, Live (CGL), and Changing Lives are just a few of the non-profits that can provide you with peer support, referrals or counselling.
The good news is that alcohol risk goes down when you quit, and it’s never too late to stop. Seeking help early can improve physical health and wellbeing while reducing long-term risks associated with alcohol.
Recovery is absolutely possible, and seeking help is the first step. Reach out to Rehab 4 Addiction to find out more about affordable alcohol rehab. Call 0800 140 4690 (or +44 345 222 3508 from outside the UK).
Below, we answer some common questions around this important topic:
No. The cancer risk comes from ethanol itself, which is present in all alcoholic drinks. There is no ‘safe’ alcohol, so you should be cautious about the health effects of drinking, especially high-content beverages in large doses.
Both alcohol and tobacco are a class 1 carcinogen, but smoking does have a higher risk. Smoking is linked to a higher number of global cancer cases, particularly lung cancer. Alcohol use is more likely to result in bowel, breast and upper digestive cancers.
Heavy drinking can lead to physical health complications like liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, as well as social and wellness issues like learning problems, mental health conditions and issues with relationships.
Women with alcohol use disorder are most at risk of breast cancer, while men are most at risk of bowel cancer. Heavy drinking creates a high increase in your likelihood of developing one of these cancers.
[3] https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/alcohol-cancer
[4] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an advisor with more than 20 years in the field. His knowledge covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an advisor and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
