It’s a sobering reminder that alcohol causes cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, and there’s no safe amount of alcohol to drink. Alcohol is a major contributor to cancer deaths and an average of 18 years of potential life lost.
Alcohol resulted in approximately 20,000 cancer deaths annually, accounting for about 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. Alcohol is also a top cause of preventable cancer after smoking and obesity and In Canada, alcohol was linked to 7,000 new cancer cases in 2020 alone.
15% of all breast cancers in women was attributable to alcohol consumption and even moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to an approximate 30 to 50 per cent increased risk of breast cancer.
“The risk from alcohol, it’s a dose response. The bigger and more frequent the dose, the higher your risk.”
Tim Stockwell, Senior Scientist, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria
The link between alcohol and cancer has been known for years
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified any type of alcohol as a carcinogen in 1988, and the link between alcohol consumption and cancer has only been proving stronger over the years.
Alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks for a variety of cancers. These include cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, and colorectal cancer. The more alcohol you consume, the higher the risk of developing cancer
It’s important to keep in mind that the risk of developing cancer increases with increased alcohol consumption. Even moderate levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of cancer, such as drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day. Heavy drinkers, who drink more than three standard drinks per day, have a much higher risk of developing cancer, particularly of the mouth and throat.
Cutting alcohol also reduces your risk of developing cancer
Fortunately, abstaining from alcohol or cutting back on the amount of alcohol one consumes can decrease the risk of developing cancer. Studies show that people who stop drinking altogether can reduce their risk of developing certain types of cancer by up to a third.
It’s clear that alcohol causes cancer, and it’s crucial for people to be aware of the risks associated with alcohol consumption. Moderation is key when it comes to alcohol for a wide range of reasons.
Thankfully, healthier and alcohol-free alternatives, like Auralis Botanical botanical tonics brewed with functional mushrooms, exist to create social lubrication without the risks inherent with consuming alcohol.
