> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Drinking alcohol even in moderation boosts risk of breast cancer - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/alcohol_ups_breast_cancer_risk_0404120949/ - Published: 2012-04-04T22:48:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:00.000Z - Description: European researchers pooled more than 100 studies and found up to one drink a day raised women's breast cancer risk by 4 percent, with three or more daily drinks raising it 40 to 50 percent. The authors advise women not to exceed one drink a day. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Cancer, Avoiding Illness, Breast Cancer, Alcohol, #vivvo-import Maria Cendejas A new study says drinking as little as one drink a day or even less may raise a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, according to abc News. European researchers evaluated data from more than 100 studies that looked at the relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. They found that having up to one drink per day raised women's risk for the disease by 4%. And three or more drinks per day increased the risk by 40-50% "Women should not exceed one drink \[per\] day, and women at elevated risk for breast cancer should avoid alcohol or consume alcohol occasionally only," concluded the authors, led by Helmut K. Seitz of the University of Heidelberg in Heidelberg, Germany. Previous research also found a link between light alcohol consumption and elevated breast cancer risk. A study published in November found that as few as three to six drinks per week raised risk by 15%. Some experts said the findings support current recommendations for women to drink in moderation in order to minimize their risk of breast cancer as well as other health conditions. They also said that while it is important to avoid excessive drinking, women should also consider alcohol as one of numerous factors that can play a role in the development of cancer and other illnesses. "The American Cancer Society guidelines say that for women who don't drink, there is no reason to start drinking, and not just to prevent breast cancer. It can even prevent heart disease. For women who do drink, they should limit their consumption to no more than one drink per day. This study underscores that these guidelines are reasonable," said Susan Gapstur, vice president of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society. Dr. Stefan Gluck, a professor at the University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center, argued that although excessive drinking should absolutely be avoided, there is nothing wrong with having one drink a day. The 4 percent increased risk among women who had one drink a day is a very small increase, he said, and other factors play a bigger role. *(Editor's comment: This type of argument is common. The problem is that if you have 4 percent here, 4 percent here, they add up quickly and all of sudden, your risk is already greater than you expected. Also, the risk is not something you can share with others. When you get cancer, your risk is 100%. Imagine if no one gets cancer, how could oncologists survive?* *Food consumers should be alerted that alcoholic beverages are carcinogen, that is, drinking alcohol increased cancer risk for sure. The National Toxicology Program has long time ago recognized alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and liquors as human carcinogens.* *Don't get fooled! No one should say you can't drink alcohol, that is your choice and your freedom. But don't deny that doing that increases your risk of cancer!)* "There are many other things that are more important," he said. "If you look at the American Association for Cancer Research report from last year, 30 percent of all cancer deaths were attributable to smoking and another 30 percent were attributable to obesity." That report also found alcohol played a role in about 3% of cancer deaths. Gapstur added that even though the study found light drinking elevated risk only moderately, breast cancer is a very common cancer, meaning 4 percent can add up to a lot of women. Other studies have found that moderate alcohol intake can protect against heart disease. The American Heart Association says on its website "A large number of observational studies have consistently demonstrated a reduction in coronary heart disease with moderate alcohol consumption. Prohibiting alcohol consumption would deny a potentially sizable health benefit to people who would otherwise choose to drink.” *(Editor's comment: Take it with a grain of salt! Some researchers were cheating. They counted drinkers who had health problems and quit drinking later as non-drinkers. So in their studies, all drinkers were healthy and non-drinkers are unhealthy, misleading readers to believe dirnking helps fight heart disease. This is a tactic the industry uses to encourage consumers to use more alcohol. Don't get fooled!)* The American Heart Association says that women shouldn’t have no more than one drink per day. While she stressed that a drink a day should be the maximum, Gapstur added,“ Women should get an overall picture of their individual risk for different illnesses to get a better sense of what lifestyle changes to make to improve overall health. The message continues to be know your health, maintain your health, see your doctor regularly and understand your risk for cancer and heart disease."