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New research from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and partners finds that alcohol consumption is associated with increased health risks even at levels often considered moderate, with no overall protective effect observed at low levels of drinking.

A new IHME analysis published in Nature Health confirms increased cancer risk from alcohol, including at levels below one standard drink per day.

A new Ohio State study is testing whether plain-language countermarketing messages can improve young women’s awareness of the link between alcohol and breast cancer risk.

A new Australian study published in the British Journal of Cancer estimates that alcohol consumption caused 7,804 cancer cases in Australia in 2024, equal to 4.6 percent of all cancers. The study found that alcohol-related cancer risk increased by 19 percent for every additional 10 drinks consumed per week.

A new clinical update from the American Gastroenterological Association says the best way to reduce liver cancer deaths is to prevent cirrhosis. The paper highlights viral hepatitis, metabolic liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease as key parts of the changing picture.

A new draft report from the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health has put alcohol labelling back at the centre of EU cancer policy. Published on 23 March 2026 and advanced in committee on 14 April, the report calls on the European Commission to move forward with legislative proposals on alcohol health warnings “without further delay.”

Canadian researchers find that strong alcohol policies—cancer warning labels and minimum unit pricing—could prevent hundreds of cancer cases and deaths. A combined $2-per‑drink minimum price and warning label showed the greatest impact, with the largest benefits for lower‑income and younger populations.

Heavy lifetime alcohol use significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer, especially rectal cancer, according to a major U.S. screening trial. Consistent heavy drinking across adulthood was linked to a 91% higher risk, while former drinkers showed no elevated risk—suggesting that quitting alcohol may help reduce long-term cancer risk.

Reducing alcohol consumption in Australia by just one litre per person annually could significantly cut deaths from several major cancers, especially among older adults. A La Trobe University study using 70 years of national data links long‑term drinking to higher mortality from UADT, liver, colorectal, and breast cancers.

Up to four in ten cancer cases in Europe could be prevented, according to the newly updated European Code Against Cancer (ECAC). The 2025 version strengthens several recommendations, including a clear new message to avoid alcohol completely, as any amount increases the risk of cancer.

New global evidence confirms that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, and the danger rises with every drink. The 2025 Surgeon General’s advisory and new data from the European Society for Medical Oncology show that even light drinking raises risk. Experts from WHO, IARC, and WCRF agree there is no safe level of alcohol for cancer prevention, reinforcing the message this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Nearly half of Tasmanians are unaware or deny that alcohol increases cancer risk, according to new research commissioned by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council Tasmania (ATDC). While most recognise alcohol’s links to mental health, pregnancy and injury risks, 45% remain uninformed about its role in cancer, prompting calls for stronger public education campaigns.

“The President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has today warned the Government’s decision to delay the planned rollout of alcohol health information labelling until 2028 at the earliest is a ‘serious threat to public health’. Dr. Anne Dee stated that the delay prioritizes corporate interests over the wellbeing of Irish citizens, potentially increasing preventable diseases and harm to children.

From a glass of wine with dinner to a beer at a ballgame, alcohol is common in many social settings. Yet most Americans are unaware it raises cancer risk. “No amount of alcohol is risk-free,” says Dr. Suneel Kamath, noting links to at least seven types of cancer. Cutting back helps, but not drinking at all is best. Alcohol, along with smoking and obesity, is a major preventable cause of cancer worldwide.

A new meta-analysis published in *Clinical Colorectal Cancer* finds that both alcohol consumption and smoking are significant risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). The review shows that the risk of EOCRC rises with higher alcohol use and that smoking—especially among current or ever-smokers—also increases risk, highlighting the need for targeted prevention.

Four in ten people would reduce their alcohol consumption if they knew that even low amounts of alcohol increase the risk of developing cancer.

A Working Group convened by IARC reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of alcohol policy interventions in reducing population-level alcohol consumption. Sufficient evidence was found for measures such as tax increases, minimum pricing, outlet density and sale time restrictions, marketing bans, and government monopolies. These interventions support WHO's Global Strategy to reduce harmful alcohol use.

Alcohol is a focus in the 2024 cancer prevention update, linked to cancer risks and requiring both individual and systemic action.