For older adults, a recent study found that the lowest risk of cancer and mortality were associated with drinking little to no alcohol. 

The cohort study used data from 99,654 adults aged 55–74 years. The data were analyzed by researchers at Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland and the National Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute, who found a link between increased overall mortality and combined risk of cancer or death in heavy (2 to 3 drinks per day) and very heavy drinkers (3 or more drinks per day), but lowest risk among light drinkers (1 to 3 drinks per week). 

Noelle LoConte, MD, associate professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, commented from the perspective of a position statement that she co-authored for the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. 

"I think the study reinforces what we already knew, which is moderate and heavy drinking is bad universally for cancer," said Dr. LoConte. 

ASCO published the statement to raise public awareness of the connection between drinking and cancer, and also to support policy strategies that would promote health by limiting excessive drinking. Examples include policies that involve "raising taxes, limiting hours of sale, reducing youth exposure to alcohol marketing as a way of reducing high-risk drinking," said Dr. LoConte. 

Resources:

• "What drinking alcohol means for your cancer and death risk," CNN Health, June 19, 2018
• "Dr. Noelle LoConte leads authorship of American Society of Clinical Oncology statement on link between alcohol and cancer," Department of Medicine, January 16, 2018

Photo (top): public domain, Agne27, CC-SA 2.0