Alcohol

Avoid

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Avoid2 studies

Alcohol consumption strongly increases laryngeal cancer risk and should be avoided

Across 2 studies involving over 1,800 participants, alcohol demonstrates a clear causal link to laryngeal cancer. A case-control study of 527 cases and 1,297 controls found alcohol energy intake raised laryngeal cancer risk with an OR of 1.16 per 100 kcal/day (95% CI 1.12–1.21), far exceeding the risk from non-alcohol energy sources (OR 1.02). IARC classifies alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans, and a consensus working group identified laryngeal cancer among the four tumor types most strongly tied to alcohol, alongside oral, esophageal, and hepatic cancers. Heavy drinking accounts for a substantial proportion of alcohol-induced laryngeal cancers. Reducing alcoholic beverage intake represents the most direct strategy for lowering this cancer burden.

Evidence

Energy, macronutrients and laryngeal cancer risk

Authors: Bosetti, Cristina, Franceschi, Silvia, Fryzek, J., Garavello, Werner, La Vecchia, Carlo, Levi, Fabio, McLaughlin, J.K., Negri, Eva, Talamini, Renato

Published: January 1, 2003

In a case-control study of 527 laryngeal cancer cases and 1297 controls conducted in Italy and Switzerland (1992-2000), alcohol energy intake was strongly associated with increased laryngeal cancer risk, with a continuous OR of 1.16 per 100 kcal/day (95% CI 1.12-1.21). This was substantially higher than the risk from non-alcohol energy (OR 1.02 per 100 kcal/day, 95% CI 1.01-1.04). Cases reported significantly higher total and alcohol-derived energy intake compared to controls. ORs were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression with a validated 78-item food frequency questionnaire.

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Report from the working group on diet and cancer.

Authors: Adami, Hans-Olov, Dragsted, Lars, Enig, Bent, Hansen, Jens, Haraldsdóttir, Jóhanna, Hill, Michael J., Holm, Lars Erik, Knudsen, Ib, Larsen, Jens-Jorgen, Lutz, Werner K., Osler, Merete, Overvad, Kim, Sabroe, Svend, Sanner, Tore, Sorensen, Thorkild I. A., Strube, Michael, Thorling, Eivind B.

Published: January 1, 1993

The consensus working group identified laryngeal cancer as 1 of 4 tumor types most strongly related to alcohol consumption, alongside oral, esophageal, and hepatic cancers. IARC classification of alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans was endorsed. Danish adult alcohol consumption nearly tripled from approximately 4 liters to 11-12 liters of pure ethanol per person per year between 1955 and 1990, representing 2-3 drinks per adult per day. A substantial proportion of alcohol-induced laryngeal cancers results from heavy drinking, and the most direct avenue for reducing the cancer burden is reducing the level of intake of alcoholic beverages.

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