Alcohol consumption is likely to cause more cancer incidence in Australia than previously thought, according to new research from the 爆料王.
The new study, published in the听,听analysed alcohol consumption behaviour among 225,000 people in the 45 & Up Study cohort in NSW 鈥 Australia鈥檚 largest ongoing study of health and ageing.
Lead author,听听from the听Cancer Elimination Collaboration听in the听School of Public Health, said: 鈥淥ur study estimates that around 4.6 percent of all cancers in Australia are caused by alcohol consumption, higher than previous estimates. Alcohol consumption also increases the risk of developing cancer by 19 percent.听
鈥淐ancer is the leading cause of premature death in Australia and, while the science on the causes of cancer continues to evolve, the evidence is now clear that reducing alcohol consumption is an effective strategy for preventing cancer.鈥
Previous estimates of cancers caused by alcohol in Australia ranged from听听迟辞听.听听
By comparing different drinking levels and their associated cancer rates, the researchers were able to estimate that more than 7,800 cancers diagnosed in Australia in 2024 were caused by alcohol consumption, which equated to 4.6 percent of all cancers, above听previous estimates.
Even low levels of consumption increase cancer risk over time, so the fewer drinks consumed, the less likely people are to be diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer.
Dr Peter Sarich
School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health
The researchers also found that for every 10 drinks consumed per week, the relative risk of cancer increased dramatically:听
- upper aerodigestive tract cancer increased by 27 percent (the mouth, throat, larynx and oesophagus);
- colorectal cancer by 16 percent;
- liver cancer by 46 percent;
- breast cancer by 18 percent.
The study looked at patterns of drinking in relation to the National Health and Medical Research Council鈥檚 (NHMRC鈥檚) alcohol consumption guidelines, which were updated in 2020 to recommend a maximum of 10 drinks per week and no more than four drinks on any one day to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm.
Dr Sarich said: 鈥淚f everyone in Australia followed the NHMRC alcohol guidelines and consumed no more than 10 standard drinks per week, we estimate that the number of alcohol-related cancer cases diagnosed each year would fall by more than 3,700.听
鈥淗owever, even low levels of consumption increase cancer risk over time, so the fewer drinks consumed, the less likely people are to be diagnosed with an alcohol-related cancer.鈥
The study听also informed the development of the new听.
Dr Sarich said: 鈥淪tudies show that only around half the population is aware that alcohol causes cancer 鈥 and far fewer are aware that common cancers such as breast cancer are strongly associated with alcohol consumption.
鈥淭his new evidence strengthens the case to promote informed choices to reduce alcohol consumption levels that will bring down cancer incidence in Australia.鈥
Hero image: Adobe Stock Photos
Research
Sarich, P., Canfell, K., Grogan, P., Weber, M.F., et al, 鈥楢lcohol-attributable cancer risk and burden estimates for Australia鈥檚 updated alcohol consumption guidelines鈥 (British Journal of Cancer, 2026)
DOI:听
Declaration
Dr Peter Sarich was funded by a postgraduate research scholarship from Cancer Council NSW, the 45 and Up PhD Scholarship in Cancer Research. Professor Karen Canfell is co-principal investigator of an unrelated investigator-initiated trial of cervical screening in Australia, which is conducted and funded by the VCS Foundation (VCS), a government-funded health promotion charity. Professor Canfell is also an investigator of Compass New Zealand, which was conducted and funded by Diagnostic Medlab (DML), now Auckland District Health Board.听
Distinguished Professor Emily Banks and Professor Canfell are supported by Investigator Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). Professor Banks was Deputy Chair of the NHMRC Alcohol Working Group (2016-2020) which advised on the updated national Australian guidelines on alcohol consumption. Professor Nehmat Houssami is supported by a National Breast Cancer Foundation Chair in Breast Cancer Prevention grant and an NHMRC Investigator Grant.听
The other authors have no funding to declare.听
Funding sources did not have any role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; nor in the decision to submit听the article for publication.
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