Drinking beer and spirits raises cancer risk

By David Liu (davidl@foodconsumer.org)

Those who believe drinking offers any health benefit may consider this: the U.S. National Toxicology Program has officially recognized alcoholic beverages as carcinogens

A new study led by Dr. Andrea Benedetti of McGill University and colleagues found that heavy drinkers of beer and spirits were at much higher risk of developing six cancers.

The researchers found those who drank highest amounts of beer and spirits were 7 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer, 80 percent more likely to acquire colon cancer and 50 percent more likely to suffer lung cancer compared to those who drank the least amounts.

For the study, the researchers compared non-drinkers, weekly drinkers and daily drinkers for incidence of cancer and found drinking beer and spirits was associated with increased risk for esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.

"The strongest risk was for esophageal and liver cancer," Benedetti said.