Alcohol and cancer
Drinking alcohol raises the risk of several cancers, and drinking less lowers that risk.
Rosa: Hi, I'm Rosa. Alcohol raises the risk of several cancers, and drinking less helps. Let's look at the facts, without judgment.
Alcohol is a known cause of cancer. It raises the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, breast, colon, and rectum.
The more you drink, the higher the risk. But even small amounts can raise the risk of some cancers, like breast cancer. There is no amount of alcohol that is known to be completely safe when it comes to cancer.
The type of drink does not matter. Beer, wine, and liquor all contain the same kind of alcohol. Drinking and smoking together raises the risk of mouth and throat cancers even more than either one alone.
If you do not drink, there is no health reason to start. If you do drink, drinking less is better for your health. The American Cancer Society says it is best not to drink alcohol.
- One standard drink
- About 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
- Cut back
- Try alcohol-free days each week, smaller glasses, or drinks without alcohol.
- Track it
- Write down what you drink for a week. Many people drink more than they think.
- Get help
- If it is hard to cut back, talk with your doctor. Free, private help is available at 1-800-662-4357 (the National Helpline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).
- Count how many drinks you have in a usual week.
- Pick one or two days a week with no alcohol to start.
- Ask your doctor if alcohol could affect your medicines or health conditions.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.