"In the U.S., there are about 20,000 alcohol-related cancer deaths annually.1,2 This is greater than the number of alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities (about 13,500 annually) in the U.S.a,13 Alcohol-related cancer deaths shorten the lives of those who die by an average of 15 years.14 Annually, a total of about 305,000 years of potential life are lost due to alcohol-related cancer deaths.14 Breast cancer accounts for the majority (~60%) of alcohol-related cancer deaths in women, whereas liver cancer (~33%) together with colorectal cancer (an additional ~21%) account for the majority of alcohol-related cancer deaths in men.2 About 83% of the estimated 20,000 U.S. alcohol-related cancer deaths per year occur at levels above the 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended limits of two drinks daily for men and one drink daily for women.2,15 Nonetheless, the remaining 17% of the estimated 20,000 U.S. alcohol-related cancer deaths per year occur at levels within those recommended limits.2"
Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). Alcohol and Cancer: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services (US); 2025.
