A glass of wine at dinner, a beer at the end of a workday, or a cocktail on the weekend are perceived by many as part of a balanced lifestyle. However, a new and particularly comprehensive study indicates that even small amounts of alcohol can be hazardous to health.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and published in the scientific journal Nature Health, examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and 20 different conditions and diseases. The most prominent finding: Even less than one alcoholic drink a day was linked to an increase in the risk of several types of cancer.
The researchers analyzed 843 studies published between the years 1963 and 2023. They rated the strength of the evidence for the link between alcohol and various diseases on a scale of zero to five stars. The conclusion was particularly clear regarding cancer: The risk increased in each of the ten types of cancer examined, and even when it comes to relatively low alcohol consumption.
Among the types of cancer found to be linked to alcohol consumption:
Pharyngeal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Breast cancer
Liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Prostate cancer
According to the researchers, as the amount of alcohol increased, so too did the risk of becoming ill.
Not only cancer
The review found that high alcohol consumption was linked to an increase in risk across all 20 medical conditions examined.
Aside from cancer, a link was also found to:
Chronic liver diseases
Liver cirrhosis
Pancreatitis
Respiratory infections
Tuberculosis
Conversely, the link between alcohol and heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia was more complex. In some of the studies, a certain decrease in risk was found among people who drank small to moderate amounts of alcohol, but the effect weakened and even reversed as consumption increased.
The evidence regarding cancer is unequivocal
One of the study's leads, health economist Emmanuela Gakidou, explained that the scientific picture surrounding alcohol is complex, but on the subject of cancer, it is difficult to argue with the data. According to her, the evidence consistently indicates that the risk of cancer rises even at low levels of alcohol consumption.
Is there a safe amount at all? In recent years, more and more studies cast doubt on the assumption according to which a "safe" amount of alcohol exists. The current study joins this trend and emphasizes that the health impact of alcohol depends on age, health status, additional risk factors, and the population being examined.
The researchers emphasize that it is currently impossible to establish a uniform and safe threshold for alcohol consumption that is suitable for every person.
The bottom line, the new study does not determine that everyone who drinks a glass of wine occasionally will develop cancer, but it reinforces the understanding that even moderate consumption of alcohol is not risk–free. As research in the field progresses, it becomes clear that the benefits previously attributed to moderate drinking are not unequivocal, while the link between alcohol and many types of cancer continues to become more established.