Alcohol and breast cancer.

Published: 24/04/2021

Peer reviewed by two members of Breast Cancer UK's independent Science Panel.

Download the review

Summary

Drinking alcoholic beverages increases the risk of breast cancer in women and heavy drinking increases the risk in men. The more alcohol a woman consumes, the greater the risk, with no lower threshold. Alcohol (ethanol) is metabolised to acetaldehyde, a cancer-causing compound. This occurs in the liver primarily and in breast tissue. Alcohol increases levels of circulating hormones such as oestrogen; high levels of these increase breast cancer risk

Next update: 2026