Raises risk
Alcohol
beer, wine, spirits. Drinks.
- Verdict
- Raises riskStudies link it to higher cancer risk.
- How sure
- Rung 5 · EstablishedLarge randomized trials or overwhelming, consistent human evidence; reflected in major guidelines.
- How big
- Colorectal cancer risk about 7% higher for each 10 g a day, less than one standard drink.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
Breast, colorectal, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, larynx
What the evidence shows
Linked to at least seven cancers. Colorectal risk rises about 7% per 10 g of alcohol a day, less than one standard drink.
What to do
Not drinking is best. If you drink, keep it occasional.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Step by step
For the whole picture, from prevention and screening to treatment and life after, see the breast cancer and colorectal cancer pages.