Does alcohol really cause breast cancer? New genetic study casts doubt

By Olivia Bowthorpe

Alcohol may not increase the risk of every cancer, including breast cancer, but instead may play a role in a few specific types, a new large study suggests.

An analysis of over 1.4 million people found moderate evidence that alcohol contributes to head and neck, oesophageal, and colorectal cancers. For liver cancer it showed inconsistent links, and surprisingly no link with breast cancer.