Drinking less could prevent cancer deaths: Reducing annual alcohol consumption in Australia by 1 litre a person could significantly lower deaths from several major cancers, including upper aerodigestive tract (UADT), liver, colorectal and breast cancers.
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2026/release/drinking-less-could-prevent-cancer-deaths-study
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**Drinking less could prevent cancer deaths:** study
**Reducing annual alcohol consumption in Australia by one litre a person could significantly lower deaths from several major cancers**, particularly among older Australians, a new study led by La Trobe University has found.
The strongest alcohol-related cancer impacts were seen in people aged 50 years and older. The researchers warn that with Australia’s ageing population — and older cohorts drinking more than younger ones — alcohol-related cancer deaths could rise without preventive action such as closing tax loopholes and using warning labels.
However, the researchers found that reducing alcohol consumption by one litre per person each year could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related cancer deaths of:
3.6 per cent fewer UADT cancer deaths in men and 3.4% fewer in women
3.9 per cent fewer male liver cancer deaths
1.2 per cent fewer male colorectal cancer deaths and 0.7% fewer in women
2.3 per cent fewer female breast cancer deaths
For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-025-03273-1
When they say 1 litre per year, they mean a litre of pure ethanol. So an annual reduction of 1 litre per year means about 40 pints of beer (assuming 5% ABV).
So drinking one pint less each week can measurably reduce your risk of cancer.
1l per year per person… sounds awfully small %%
If my math is correct… it’s about one less shot glass of “liquor” per week.
The people of Ikaria, Greece would love to participate in this study. Tell them that drinking wine is bad for them. They tend to drink a 3 or 4 large glasses a day and sometimes more of their red wines they make on the island and most of their people live way past 100!
Locking everyone in cages would reduce traffic deaths to zero.
Small effects on the individual –> measurable, scary sounding population level effects.
The fact is well established that the harms of alcohol are focused at the heavy-drinking end of the spectrum. At the light-moderate (1-2 drinks per day) end, the reduction in life expectancy is negligible, on the scale of days to weeks.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802963
While the title is a tautology as it is written, the actual article is not much better.
* 3.6 per cent fewer UADT cancer deaths in men and 3.4% fewer in women
* 3.9 per cent fewer male liver cancer deaths
* 1.2 per cent fewer male colorectal cancer deaths and 0.7% fewer in women
* 2.3 per cent fewer female breast cancer deaths
But how many deaths in total? And what is 1 liter of alcohol a year in a more clear way?
Consuming less of the poison lowers your risks of death. Imagine what would happen if you stop poisoning yourself altogether?
Ha! Everything in moderation kids, that’s why I only drink once a week on Friday night. Sure, I might drink a whole 750ml bottle of whiskey over the evening, but it’s all in moderation! Right? Right? I don’t have a problem