A new study has taken a closer look at how alcohol use over a lifetime affects the risk of colorectal cancer and what happens to that risk when people stop drinking.
Researchers followed more than 88,000 U.S. adults for about 20 years and found 1,679 cases of colorectal cancer during that time. People who were current drinkers and averaged 14 or more drinks per week over their lifetime had a higher risk of colorectal cancer—and an especially high risk of rectal cancer—compared with people who averaged less than one drink per week. Heavy drinkers had about a 25% higher risk of colorectal cancer overall and a 95% higher risk of rectal cancer.
The pattern of drinking also mattered. Those who drank heavily across most of their adult life had nearly double the risk of colorectal cancer compared with people who consistently drank very little. In contrast, people who had stopped drinking did not show an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Former drinkers also had fewer colorectal polyps (adenomas), which can sometimes turn into cancer, than current drinkers who averaged less than one drink per week. The authors note that data on former drinkers were limited, so these findings should be interpreted with some caution.
Scientists think alcohol may increase colorectal cancer risk through substances produced when the body breaks down alcohol and through changes to the bacteria that live in the gut. More research is needed to fully understand these processes.
For people concerned about colorectal cancer—including those living with or beyond cancer—this study adds to the evidence that cutting back on alcohol, or quitting altogether, may help lower risk over time. If you drink, talking with your oncology and primary care teams can help you decide on safer limits or a plan to reduce or stop alcohol use in a way that works for you.
Reference
O’Connell CP, Berndt SI, Chudy-Onwugaje K, et al. Association of alcohol intake over the lifetime with colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Cancer. 2026 Feb 1;132(3):e70201.
