Despite being categorized as a Group 1 carcinogen—the same as asbestos, radiation and tobacco—by the World Health Organization, more than half of U.S. adults do not know that drinking alcohol raises the risk of devleoping cancer.
This is the finding of researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, whose study highlights persistent knowledge gaps that may be contributing to the rising rates of alcohol-related cancers across the country.
In fact, 5.8 percent of all deaths from cancer in the United States are attributed to drinking alcohol.
To be precise, the study found that 52.9 percent of surveyed adults were unaware that alcohol consumption affects cancer risk. While 37.1 percent of respondents correctly identified alcohol as a cancer risk factor, 9.1 percent believed it had no impact and 1 percent thought that alcohol actually reduced cancer risk.
“It’s concerning that people who drink alcohol are the ones most likely to believe it has no effect on cancer risk,” paper author and epidemiologist professor Sanjay Shete said in a statement.
“Given people’s beliefs play a critical role in whether they choose healthier behaviors, we need to work on correcting these misperceptions, which could be essential to reducing the growing burden of alcohol-related cancers.”
In their study, the researchers analyzed data from 6,793 Americans aged 18 and older who completed the the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey.
Participants were asked: “In your opinion, how does drinking alcohol affect the risk of getting cancer?” Response options ranging from “decreases the risk” to “don’t know.”
The respondents had a mean age of 48.9 years and was composed of 51.6 percent men and 48.4 percent women. Demographically, 60.7 percent were non-Hispanic White, 17.5 percent Hispanic, and 11 percent non-Hispanic Black.
More than half—51.9 percent—had consumed alcohol within the past month and 9.8 percent reported a personal history of cancer.
The findings revealed significant misunderstandings or lack of knowledge among much of the population.
Interestingly, people who had consumed alcohol recently were more likely to believe alcohol does not influence cancer risk. Misperceptions were also more common among those who believed cancer is not fatal or not preventable.
The researchers noted that while the link between alcohol and cancer is scientifically established, it is not widely recognized by the general public, especially by those who engage in regular drinking.
The study underscores the need for better and more targeted public health messaging, particularly to address misconceptions held by avid drinkers.
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Reference
Shete, Sanjay et al. (2025). Beliefs about the effect of alcohol use on cancer risk in the U.S. adult population. JAMA Oncology. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4472.
