A major UK study has raised concerns that drinking very hot beverages may slightly increase the risk of oesophageal cancer, though the overall risk remains low. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the research combined data from nearly 980,000 adults using two large studies: UK Biobank and the Million Women Study. The findings suggest that people who regularly drink hot beverages—such as tea or coffee—face a higher risk of oesophageal cancer compared to those who prefer their drinks warm. Those who drank very hot beverages had about three times the risk of developing the cancer compared to those who drank them at lower temperatures. Drinking six or more hot beverages a day also increased the risk compared to drinking fewer than six. The study estimated that in Western countries, people typically drink coffee and tea at around 60°C (140°F). While the study did not record exact temperatures, it referenced a 2016 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified drinks above 65°C (149°F) as "probably carcinogenic." Researchers note that adding cold milk or letting drinks cool slightly before drinking can reduce the risk. This is because very hot liquids may damage the lining of the oesophagus, potentially leading to cancer over time. The research specifically found that drinking very hot beverages was linked to an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), one of the two main types of oesophageal cancer. However, the study did not find a similar link with adenocarcinoma, the other main type. In the UK, about 9,500 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer each year, and the lifetime risk of developing SCC is approximately 1%. Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, emphasized that while the risk of oesophageal cancer is low in the UK, the study adds to the evidence that drinking very hot beverages may increase the risk of SCC. She recommended letting drinks cool slightly before drinking and stressed that avoiding smoking and reducing alcohol consumption are more effective ways to lower cancer risk. Dr. Keren Papier, the study's lead researcher and a senior nutritional epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health, noted that previous research had linked very hot drinks—such as mate, a traditional South American beverage—to higher cancer risks. However, it was unclear whether similar risks applied to the temperatures commonly used in Western countries. This study is the largest to examine the issue in the UK, where tea and coffee are widely consumed. While it supports existing evidence, more research is needed to determine the exact temperatures that could increase cancer risk.