What Do We Know About Alcohol & Cancer Risk?
- “Gossip Girl” actress Blake Lively doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages—and it’s a decision that may be allowing her to live longer, according to Dr. Tim Stockwell, of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research.
- Dr. Stockwell said in a recent interview that by consuming just one alcoholic beverage each day can reduce one’s lifespan by about two-and-a-half months. And those who drink about 35 alcoholic beverages per week could be reducing their lifespan by two years.
- If you’re thinking about cutting back on your alcohol consumption or giving it up altogether, like Blake Lively, you should also take into consideration the effects alcohol can have on your cancer risk.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, there is a clear link between consuming alcohol, especially drinking it regularly over time, and an increased risk of several cancers. Those cancers include head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast and colorectal.
- Oncologists say moderate alcohol consumption is an answer for people looking to balance cancer risk with the enjoyment they get from drinking.
Actress Blake Lively, who played Serena Van Der Woodsen in the popular TV show series "Gossip Girl," previously revealed she doesn't drink alcohol because she doesn't like it affects her—and it's a decision that may be allowing her to live longer, according to a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. Dr. Tim Stockwell, of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, recently told
Daily Mail that by consuming just one alcoholic beverage [a beer, glass of wine, shot of a spirit, or a fancy cocktail] every day, one's lifespan can be shortened by about two-and-a-half months. As per Dr. Stockwell, drinking just an average of two drinks each week [glasses of wine, bottles of beer, or a few shots of liquor] throughout one's lifetime can reduce a person's life by approximately three to six days.
RELATED: Alcohol Can Cause Cancer — So Why Don’t Beer, Wine, Whiskey and Other Booze Labels Warn Us? Additionally, those who drink a whopping 35 alcoholic beverages per week could be reducing their lifespan by two years. "Alcohol is our favorite recreational drug. We use it for pleasure and relaxation, and the last thing we want to hear is that it causes any harm," Dr. Stockwell explained. "It's comforting to think that drinking is good for our health, but unfortunately, it’s based on poor science." Dr. Stockwell previously published a systematic review and meta-analyses titled, "
Association Between Daily Alcohol Intake and Risk of All-Cause Mortality, " which found that "daily low or moderate alcohol intake was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk, while increased risk was evident at higher consumption levels, starting at lower levels for women than men." Meanwhile, the
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) advises that "excessive alcohol use can have immediate and long-term effects" and "drinking less is better for your health than drinking more." Additionally, drinking any type of alcoholic beverages, whether it be beer, white or red wine, and liquor is associated with heightened cancer risk. "More than 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers each year in the United States," the CDC adds. And drinking alcohol excessively can lead to:
- High blood pressure.
- Heart disease.
- Liver disease.
- Stroke.
- Alcohol use disorder, affecting both physical and mental health.
- Digestive problems.
Blake Lively's Decision Not To Drink
Although Blake Lively, a mom of four, founded sparkling cocktail brand Betty Booze and nonalcoholic mixer brand Betty Buzz, many of her fans know the beloved actress doesn't drink alcoholic beverages. She told
People in an earlier interview, "I don't drink because I don't like the effects of alcohol, but I like being a part of it. I like being social. I like people coming together. "I found that sometimes not drinking, the thing that was interesting was that it was a little alienating, because you don't feel — and maybe it's just in your own head — but you just don't really feel a part of it."
Lively, whose actor husband Ryan Reynolds own's Aviation Gin, continued, "When we first started talking about this company, one of the conversations that came up was like, 'Are we going to be pushing a boulder up a hill because you don't drink and mixers are made to mix with alcohol? I mean, that's the name of them. So are you going to have credibility in this space as somebody who doesn't drink?'
RELATED: Actor & Colon Cancer Advocate Ryan Reynold’s Terrible Anxiety Problem and How He Deals With Stresses— Coping With Emotions & The Importance of Mental Health "And I was like, 'Yeah, because I feel like I'm somebody who really likes flavor, that's it for me.'" Referring to a good idea she's learned of to reduce the amount of alcohol in a mixed drink was to simply add one or two "drops" of liquor. "It gives it a flavor, but it's not going to give it a sort of experience ... well, it'll give it a flavor experience, but not [much] alcohol," she added, also pointing out that it may be a good idea to just use liqueur to the rim of a glass before salting it, to just get "the taste" of it.
In an earlier advertisement for Lively's Betty Booze drinks, shared on Instagram, she wrote, "Drinking isn’t my thing. But for f* sake, flavor is. "Homemade recipes. Real fruit. Real ingredients. Quality booze. No crap. Also a real time saver. Which is why I really did it."
RELATED: What You Need to Know About Alcohol Consumption However, some of her fans have denounced her promotion of alcoholic beverages, with one fan commenting, "It's so lame when celebrities who don’t drink suddenly promote alcohol," while another wrote, "Another cash grab from a celebrity over a liquor brand and this one doesn't even drink,"
TODAY.com reported. Others commented in favor of her new business venture, writing in another comment, "Woah people are so sensitive about everything. Someone can not drink and still create a drink for those who do. "The company started with NA sparkling mixers. People drink those as mock tails and in cocktails, people can choose to drink these or not. Why not build a company where there is something for everyone. If you don’t like it don’t buy it, if you don’t drink it don’t drink it, don’t like it keep scrolling." Speaking to
Allure back in 2012, Lively also confirmed she doesn't consume alcohol, saying, "I don't drink. I've never tried a drug. ... It's just something that I genuinely don't have a desire for."
Alcohol and Cancer Risk
Blake Lively's decision not to drink reminds us of alcohol’s relation to cancer risk. According to the
National Cancer Institute , there is a clear link between consuming alcohol, especially drinking it regularly over time, and an increased risk of several cancers. Those cancers include head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast and colorectal.
More On Alcohol & Cancer
A
study published in JAMA Network Open about two years ago found that people with “heavy drinking levels had an associated higher risk” of developing alcohol-related cancers “than those who did not drink.” The study included 4.5 million participants who self-reported their drinking habits. The results concluded people who reduced their alcohol consumption lowered their risk. Conversely, “Those with moderate or heavy drinking levels who quit drinking had a higher all cancer incidence than those who sustained their levels, but when quitting was sustained, this increase in risk disappeared.” Additionally, the
American Cancer Society warns that alcohol consumption can increase your risk for many different types of cancer. Considering cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box and esophagus, for example, alcohol “clearly” increases risk. That being said, the ACS notes that drinking and smoking together puts you at a much higher risk for these cancers than drinking or smoking alone.
Alcohol Can Increase the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer “This might be because alcohol can help harmful chemicals in tobacco get inside the cells that line the mouth, throat, and esophagus,” the
ACS website states. “Alcohol may also limit how these cells can repair damage to their DNA caused by the chemicals in tobacco.” When it comes to liver cancer, “
long-term alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk.” When you regularly drink a lot of alcohol, liver damage can occur and lead to inflammation and scarring a possible explanation for the increased risk. We also know there’s a clear link between breast cancer and alcohol consumption. In November 2017, the American Society of Clinical Oncology
published a statement citing evidence that links alcohol to multiple cancers and calling for reduced alcohol consumption as a way to cut people’s cancer risk. But many women said they had been drinking more during the pandemic, and 70 percent weren’t aware of the resulting increased cancer risk, according to a
SurvivorNet survey in February 2021.
RELATED: Warning to Drinkers: ‘Strong Link’ Found Between Alcohol and Deadly Cancers The
ACS also reports that alcohol use has been linked with a higher risk of cancers of the colon and rectum with stronger evidence for this in men than in women, though studies have found the link in both sexes.
Does Alcohol Impact the Risks for Colon and Other Cancers? Dr. Heather Yeo , a colorectal cancer surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, also previously spoke with SurvivorNet, revealing she believes alcohol increases risk for certain cancers but acknowledged that the data was mixed, especially for colon cancer. “I do think that high levels of alcohol certainly predispose to a certain number of cancers, including pancreatic and liver cancer, and may predispose to colon cancer,” she said. “But there’s also some data that shows that low levels of alcohol, or a glass of wine here and there, may actually lower your risk of colon cancer.”
Making Decisions On Alcohol Consumption & Tips To Help You Avoid It
It’s important to note that alcohol consumption may increase the risk of developing these cancers, but it doesn’t necessarily cause these cancers. That being said, it’s hard to know what to do if you’re concerned about your alcohol intake increasing your risk of various cancers.
Dr. Heather Yeo previously stressed the importance of moderation, telling SurvivorNet, “For women, anything over a half a glass or a glass a day is probably not helping your overall health. For men, they can probably go one to two glasses before they start seeing health effects.”
RELATED: Alcohol Consumption Increases Cancer Risk. Less Booze Is Associated With Lower Cancer Risk, New Data Adds To The Case For Moderation If you happen to struggle with alcohol in times of stress, Victoria Martin’s story may inspire you. Martin is a breast cancer survivor and wellness coach who used her own experience to help others with alcohol addiction. Speaking to SurvivorNet in an
earlier interview , Martin shared some helpful tips and actionable steps people can use to help break unhealthy habits and cope with stress without alcohol.
- Mindset: Instead of looking at it like this is something you have to give up, try making a tiny shift in your language and thinking that still feels true. Have an open mind and think about what you will gain and learn, rather than approaching from deprivation.
- Be Curious: What would it feel like to experience some new thoughts and feelings to replace the worn-out ones? It is empowering to realize that you can change your patterns and see what is on the other side.
- Understand This is Not the Garden of Eden: Thinking of anything as a “forbidden fruit” creates even greater cravings, feelings of resentment, and deprivation. You are simply getting curious and creating changes that you get to make. Also, emotional attachments to our habits are very real, so it is perfectly healthy to acknowledge and honor these feelings.
- Create a Toolbox: Habits that no longer serve us, did serve a purpose at some point, and that is part of why we use them past their expiration date. You may be surprised at how uncomfortable some moments can be, but you can learn tools and tactics that will make it easier than staying stuck.
- Find Your People: You are not alone. Luckily, there is strength in numbers and a community where you can connect with people who understand what it is like. Sharing your experience won’t just help you feel less alone, but you will be helping others.
- Drop the “Shoulds”: One of the quickest ways to be defeated is by “shoulding ourselves.” Expecting to be perfect and tearing ourselves down will only lead to our maladaptive habits gaining more of a foothold. Practice speaking to yourself the way you would speak to a friend and see how kindness gets you moving in the right direction.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff 
Most Popular
Comments / 0