Alcohol-related cancer deaths in the United States have more than doubled over the past three decades, according to a new study. Researchers from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease study, which tracks health trends worldwide. Their findings, published in the Lancet Regional Health in August, reveal that the number of annual cancer deaths linked to alcohol rose from 11,361 in 1990 to 23,126 in 2023. The study connects alcohol consumption to a higher risk of death from several cancers, including breast, prostate, colon, rectal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and head and neck cancers. The research highlights that older men are particularly affected, though the increase in alcohol-related cancer deaths was observed across most cancer types, age groups, and geographic regions. Alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), meaning it is known to cause cancer in humans. This classification places alcohol in the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos. Studies show that even low levels of alcohol consumption can increase cancer risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a "standard drink" in the U.S. as containing 14 grams of pure alcohol, meaning even one drink per day could elevate cancer risk. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), alcohol contributes to cancer development through multiple mechanisms. In 2019, alcohol was estimated to be responsible for about 5%—nearly 100,000—of the 1.8 million cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. It was also linked to about 4%—nearly 25,000—of the 600,000 cancer deaths that year. The alcohol-related cancer mortality rate among males aged 55 and older increased by nearly 24% over the 33-year study period. Among men, liver cancer deaths had the strongest link to alcohol, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancers. For women aged 55 and older, breast cancer was the leading alcohol-related cause of death, followed by liver and colorectal cancers. In early 2023, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy stated that alcohol use is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., following tobacco and obesity. He urged for warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers about the cancer risks associated with drinking. This call for action comes amid growing concern over the rising toll of alcohol-related cancers, which continue to affect a wide range of populations across the country.