The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY GUIDELINES ON ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

LIMIT CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, IF YOU DRINK AT ALL

Alcoholic beverages, along with cigarette smoking and use of snuff and chewing tobacco, cause cancers of the oral cavity, esophagus, and larynx. Cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed and may start to rise with intake of as few as two drinks per day. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Oral and esophageal cancers are much more common in countries where alcohol consumption is high. The combined use of tobacco and alcohol leads to greatly increased risk of oral and esophageal cancers; the effect of tobacco and alcohol combined is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Studies also have noted an association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer. The mechanism for this effect is unknown, but the association may be due to carcinogenic actions of alcohol or its metabolites, to alcohol-induced changes in levels of hormones such as estrogens, or to some other process. Alcohol may have additional effects on cancer risk. Alcoholic beverages supply calories but few nutrients; people who drink heavily may be substituting alcohol for nutrient-rich, cancer-protective foods. Regardless of the mechanism, studies suggest that the risk of breast cancer may increase with an intake of just a few drinks per week.

Moderate intake of alcoholic beverages has been shown to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, at least in middle-aged adults. These cardiovascular benefits may outweigh the risk of cancer in men over age 50 and in women over age 60. Public health officials advise people who already drink alcoholic beverages to limit their intake to two drinks a day for men, and one drink per day for women. Women generally tolerate alcohol less well than men as a result of smaller body size and greater ability to absorb alcohol. Women with an unusually high risk for breast cancer might reasonably consider abstaining from alcohol. Children and adolescents, pregnant women, and people taking certain medications also should abstain from alcohol consumption.

Source: "Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention: Reducing the Risk of Cancer with Healthy Food Choices and Physical Activity, The American Cancer Society 1996 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

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