In the UK, around 17,000 cancers each year are caused by alcohol—that’s nearly 1 in 20 cases. Breast cancer, the most common cancer in the UK, has an especially strong link: as many as 1 in 10 breast cancer cases are attributed to alcohol, according to Cancer Research UK.
I found this statistic astonishing. While many of us are aware of the link between tobacco and cancer, far fewer realize the equally clear connection between alcohol and cancer. Even more surprising is that although alcohol has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen since 1988—the same category as tobacco and asbestos—this week marked the first time MPs have debated alcohol and cancer in Westminster, nearly 40 years later.
Why now? Public health experts warn we’re facing an alcohol harm crisis. The figures are alarming and have risen dramatically since the pandemic. A 42% increase in alcohol-related deaths over just five years would be considered a health emergency for any other condition. But alcohol remains a toxic substance to our bodies, with risks even at low levels of consumption. The World Health Organization now declares there is no safe level of drinking.
Alcohol has been linked to at least seven types of cancer: breast, bowel, mouth, throat, liver, stomach, and oesophageal—the latter being particularly difficult to treat. A new study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, released in May this year, adds pancreatic cancer to the list.
Currently, there are around 46 new alcohol-related cancer diagnoses every day in the UK. Experts warn that unless alcohol consumption returns to pre-pandemic levels, an additional 18,875 cancer cases could occur by 2035.
These aren’t just statistics—they are people’s lives, damaged and lost while the alcohol industry prioritizes profits for shareholders and executives over public health. Given nearly four decades of research, one would expect the public to be well-informed about alcohol’s cancer risks. Unfortunately, this is far from true.
Recent polling commissioned by the World Cancer Research Fund found that only 7% of UK adults know alcohol increases cancer risk. Even more worryingly, one in four adults believe there are no health risks from drinking alcohol at all.
This is a staggering lack of awareness, especially considering that alcohol is linked to over 200 health conditions and injuries. It is the leading cause of death, illness, and disability for 15-49-year-olds in the UK. Without awareness, people cannot make informed choices about their drinking.
The problem is worsened by the fact that the alcohol industry is not required to include health warnings on their product labels. Despite soaring harm rates, the UK has few effective alcohol control policies to reduce these risks.
Alcohol in the UK is more affordable than ever. Since 2010, it has become 14% more affordable overall. Scotland’s introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) offers a successful example—this policy helped reduce alcohol-specific deaths by 13.4%. It was therefore baffling to hear rumours that MUP was considered but then removed from the government’s 10 Year Plan.
The UK also trails behind other countries in restricting alcohol marketing. There isn’t even a 9pm watershed for alcohol ads, despite alcohol being age-restricted. Advertising is a powerful driver—companies spend millions to encourage people to drink more often and in greater quantities, leading to increased harms, including cancer.
Alcohol consumption must be an informed choice. While we must recognise those predisposed to alcoholism and support them, the majority of drinkers lack adequate information about alcohol’s health risks to make truly informed decisions.
During my Backbench Business Committee debate on this topic on Tuesday, I was pleased to hear the Health Minister, Ashley Dalton, commit again to the government introducing labelling which makes this link clear. I would also like to see the government go further and commit to a national alcohol strategy to respond to the rising numbers of alcohol related deaths and cancers too.
After 40 years of evidence linking alcohol to cancer, the public remains largely unaware. Without greater awareness and stronger policies, alcohol-related cancer cases will continue to rise.
After 40 years of evidence linking alcohol to cancer, the public remains largely unaware of the dangers
