Cancer Risk by Number of Drinks per Day:
Research indicates that the risk of developing certain cancers increases with the amount of alcohol consumed daily. Here’s a summary based on available data:
- 1 Drink per Day:
- Breast Cancer: Women who consume about one drink daily have a 10% relative risk increase in breast cancer compared to non-drinkers. HHS.gov
- Mouth Cancer: A 40% relative odds increase for mouth cancer has been observed in individuals consuming about one drink per day compared to non-drinkers. HHS.gov
- 2 Drinks per Day:
- Breast Cancer: A 32% relative risk increase for women who consume more than two drinks per day, compared to women who did not drink. HHS.gov
- Mouth Cancer: A 97% relative odds increase for mouth cancer has been observed in individuals consuming about two drinks per day compared to non-drinkers. HHS.gov
- 3.5 Drinks per Day:
- Colorectal and Breast Cancer: Drinking about 3.5 drinks daily increases the risk of developing colorectal and breast cancer by 1.5 times compared to non-drinkers. Canadian Cancer Society
- 5 or More Drinks per Day:
- Liver Cancer: The chances of developing liver cancer increase markedly with the consumption of five or more drinks per day. Cancer Trends Progress Report
It’s important to note that these statistics represent relative risk increases. For example, if the baseline risk of a certain cancer is low, even a significant relative increase may still represent a small absolute risk. However, since many U.S. adults consume alcohol, these relative increases constitute a substantial number of preventable cancer cases.