Most adults don’t realise alcohol raises cancer risk, and drinkers themselves are the least aware. Scientists say targeting these misbeliefs could significantly reduce alcohol-related cancer deaths.
New research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shows that public understanding of the connection between alcohol and cancer remains surprisingly low in the United States. Despite decades of scientific evidence, more than half of American adults (52.9%) were unaware that alcohol affects cancer risk.
The findings, published in JAMA Oncology, reveal that only 37.1% of adults recognised that drinking alcohol raises cancer risk, while 1% believed it actually lowers it. The study also noted that individuals who had consumed alcohol recently, or who thought cancer was not fatal or preventable, were more likely to say that alcohol does not influence cancer risk.
Lead author Sanjay Shete, Ph.D., professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and Betty B. Marcus Chair in Cancer Prevention, calls the results alarming. "It's concerning that people who drink alcohol are the ones most likely to believe it has no effect on cancer risk," he says. "Given people's beliefs play a critical role in whether they choose healthier behaviours, we need to work on correcting these misperceptions, which could be essential to reducing the growing burden of alcohol-related cancers."
Researchers examined what influences how people view alcohol and cancer risk, noting that health-related behaviours and beliefs strongly affect whether individuals make informed choices. The study found that certain demographic and behavioural traits were linked to greater misunderstanding of alcohol's effects.
Current cigarette smokers, those with lower levels of education (below a college or high school level), and people who do not believe cancer can be prevented were more likely to say they did not know alcohol contributes to cancer risk.
Alcohol's Proven Role as a Carcinogen
The World Health Organization classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same level of risk as tobacco, asbestos, and radiation. Alcohol consumption has been tied to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancers. According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), drinking alcohol accounts for about 5.5% of all new cancer cases and 5.8% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Researchers suggest that correcting misinformation could help more people follow alcohol consumption guidelines, potentially reducing preventable cancer-related deaths.
The analysis drew on data from nearly 7,000 adults aged 18 and older (mean age 48) who participated in the survey. Among respondents, 48.4% were female. Over half reported drinking alcohol within the past month, and almost 10% had a personal history of cancer. Participants were asked, "In your opinion, how does drinking alcohol affect the risk of getting cancer?" They could choose from four responses: "decreases the risk of cancer," "has no effect on the risk of cancer," "increases risk of cancer," and "don't know."
Source;
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. "Most Americans don’t know alcohol can cause cancer." ScienceDaily. 5 November 2025. Note: Content may be edited for style and length