Alcohol use is driving more cancer in Australia than previously thought

Most people assume that drinking alcohol is harmless, as long as it is in moderation. However, growing research says that low to moderate consumption may carry more serious risks than previously understood.A new study by the University of Sydney researchers found that alcohol consumption is causing more cancers in Australia than previously thought. The findings of the study is published in the British Journal of Cancer.

The surging cancer burden

The University of Sydney researchers analysed drinking patterns among more than 225,000 participants in the 45 & Up Study cohort in NSW, Australia’s largest ongoing study of health and ageing. They found that for every 10 drinks consumed per week, the risk of developing cancer increased by 19%.“Our 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,” lead author, Dr Peter Sarich from the Cancer Elimination Collaboration in the School of Public Health, said, in a release.“Cancer 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,” Dr Sarich added.

Earlier, cancers caused by alcohol in Australia ranged from 2.8% to 4.1%.

Cancer risk rises with every drink

The researchers compared drinking levels with cancer risk and found that over 7,800 cancer cases in Australia in 2024 were caused by alcohol. This equals 4.6% of all cases, which is higher than previous estimates.They also found that the every 10 drinks consumed per week was linked to:

The study also examined drinking patterns against the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC’s) guidelines, updated in 2020, which 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.“If 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. However, 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 Sarich said.The researchers also informed the development of the new Cancer Institute NSW alcohol and cancer risk tool.“Studies show that only around half the population is aware that alcohol causes cancer – and far fewer are aware that common cancers such as breast cancer are strongly associated with alcohol consumption. This new evidence strengthens the case to promote informed choices to reduce alcohol consumption levels that will bring down cancer incidence in Australia,” Dr Sarich added.