For decades, alcohol has been marketed as a way to unwind, celebrate, and socialize. But what if that nightly glass of wine or weekend cocktail carries hidden risks? A new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General is shedding light on a lesser-known danger of alcohol use disorder: alcohol’s link to cancer. As more people rethink their drinking habits, awareness campaigns like Dry January are gaining traction. But breaking up with alcohol isn’t always easy, so what does this new research mean for those trying to cut back?
Many people don’t know that alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. This could be because alcohol is so heavily promoted through media and advertising. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the degree to which alcohol raises cancer risk depends on how much a person drinks and the type of cancer.
As more people clue into the fact that no amount of alcohol is healthy, initiatives like Dry January, where people are encouraged to abstain from drinking for the entirety of January, are becoming more popular. This shows that many people are starting to question how alcohol fits into their lives, and that’s a positive change. However, alcohol is an addictive substance, and for some, dropping it or even cutting it back can pose significant challenges.
Is alcohol a carcinogenic?
Yes, alcohol, including beer, wine, and hard liquor, has been shown to cause cancer. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer lists it as a carcinogen, and it is responsible for around 20,000 cancer-related deaths every year in the US.
The topic is gaining more attention. In January 2025, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy suggested putting health warning labels on alcoholic drinks, the same as there are on cigarettes, to help people understand the risk of cancer.
How does alcohol increase cancer risk?
Alcohol impacts the whole body, but scientists don’t yet fully understand how it leads to cancer. One theory is that alcohol creates more free radicals, which are molecules that can harm cells. Excess free radicals create oxidative stress, which can damage the DNA in cells. The body is normally capable of fixing this damage, but too much exposure can make it hard for it to keep up with the damage.
Another theory links alcohol and diet to the increase in risk. People who drink alcohol often have unhealthy eating habits and may be overweight, both of which can raise the risk of cancer. Combining alcohol and tobacco use also increases this risk. This may happen because alcohol interacts with the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, making it easier for these chemicals to enter the body’s cells.
Treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD)Â
Alcohol use problems are common, but only a small number of people receive medication to help treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The best approach to treating AUD usually combines medication, behavioral therapy, and support groups like AA, as this is more effective than any single method.
Disulfiram was the first drug specifically approved to help treat alcohol addiction. It works by stopping the body from breaking down alcohol, which causes severe reactions if alcohol is consumed. These reactions include redness in the face, nausea, vomiting, and problems with the heart or breathing. Many people avoid drinking alcohol out of fear of these effects. However, most doctors see disulfiram as a second choice for treatment. Medications like Naltrexone and Campral are more commonly used as the first options.
Naltrexone is a medication that blocks opioid receptors, which blocks the pleasurable effects of alcohol. This means it stops the feeling of being intoxicated from alcohol or opioids with just one pill a day. For those who want to cut back on drinking instead of quitting completely, it helps them gain control by making alcohol less tempting.
Campral is one of the newer treatments for alcohol use disorder. It was first developed in France and approved by the FDA over 20 years ago. The medication helps fix problems in the brain’s glutamate system that happen in people with AUD, especially during withdrawal. It is used to help those who have stopped drinking stay sober. Similar to Naltrexone, it is effective when taken to lower cravings, reduce drinking, and minimize the harm caused by alcohol.
Other drugs are sometimes prescribed for AUDs
Disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate are the only medications currently approved by the FDA to treat alcohol use disorder, but doctors sometimes prescribe other drugs off-label for this purpose. For example, Topamax, a medication for epilepsy, and semaglutide, the main ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may help people reduce how much alcohol they drink.
Topamax has been found to help decrease alcohol cravings in individuals with alcohol use disorder. While the exact biochemical process behind its effects is not fully understood, several potential mechanisms have been proposed.
One reason people enjoy alcohol is that it stimulates the release of dopamine, a chemical in the brain associated with pleasure and reward. Alcohol also impacts GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system. Topiramate is believed to reduce alcohol cravings and consumption by affecting GABA activity. It may also lower dopamine release, which plays a role in the rewarding effects of alcohol.
Semaglutide GLP-1 medications affect more than just the stomach; they can impact the entire body, including the heart and brain. Studies show that semaglutide, a medicine already used to treat diabetes and obesity, could help reduce alcohol use. Semaglutide works by targeting the GLP-1 system, a hormone that helps control hunger and blood sugar. This system also affects the brain pathways linked to substance use and may lower dopamine levels, which can make previously rewarding behaviors, such as drinking, far less pleasurable.
The study showed that higher doses of semaglutide led to less drinking in both male and female rats. These results suggest the need for clinical trials to see if semaglutide could be an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder in humans.
When to get help
As many as half of all cancer cases can be prevented, which means people have more control over their health than they might think. The best way to reduce the likelihood of cancer from factors within one’s own control includes targeting the main risk factors. This means eating a balanced diet, staying at a healthy weight, smoking, and avoiding overexposure to the sun. And now we know that cutting back on alcohol is another key step in lowering the risk of cancer.
In our modern-day culture, where having a drink is such a normalized part of many lives, recognizing any issues with alcohol might only arise once someone tries to reduce their intake and finds it difficult or impossible to do so. If this is the case, it can be incredibly helpful to reach out for support.
Those struggling with alcohol use disorder or curious about ways to achieve sobriety could start by reaching out to a healthcare provider. Healthcare professionals can provide support and resources to help someone quit drinking and lower their risk of cancer. There are also some great podcasts and Instagram sobriety activists to follow that create safe and inclusive spaces for those looking to reduce their alcohol intake. Try Sober Powered or soberdave. There are also more traditional programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA,) available in person or online, that have helped millions.
FAQs
Does drinking alcohol make existing cancer worse?
Drinking alcohol after being diagnosed with cancer can make some treatments less effective and might lead to harmful side effects. Patients going through cancer treatment should ask their doctor if it’s safe for them to drink alcohol. For someone with liver cancer, staying away from alcohol is very important. The liver’s job is to filter alcohol from the blood and break it down. Drinking alcohol after a liver cancer diagnosis can harm the healthy parts of the liver and may reduce the available treatment options.
Research suggests that drinking alcohol after surviving cancer might raise the chances of the cancer returning or even lead to a new cancer. Despite this, a study found that almost 80% of cancer survivors still consume some alcohol.
How can you lower alcohol-related cancer risk?
Giving up alcohol has many benefits, but it doesn’t lower health risks immediately, especially for those who have been drinking for years. However, stopping alcohol use helps prevent risks from increasing over time, and studies show that staying alcohol-free can lead to lower cancer rates.
Predicting how quickly or by how much a person’s cancer risk decreases after quitting alcohol is hard. It could take years for their risk to match that of someone who has never drank alcohol.
Is there a safe amount of alcohol to drink without causing cancer?
Drinking less alcohol is always better for health. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, the recommended limits are one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. However, there’s no safe amount of alcohol when it comes to preventing cancer.
