Statutory warning: Alcohol consumption increases risk of mouth cancer, finds Tata Memorial study

The 10-year multi-centre study compared 1,803 people with confirmed buccal mucosa cancer (mouth cancer) and a control group of 1,903 randomly selected people free of the disease

There is no safe limit for consuming alcohol, even a low daily intake heightened the risk of mouth cancer, says a study by the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology and Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre.

People think that drinking wine or a locally brewed alcohol is safe, but the study in fact found greater risk with locally brewed alcohols, explained Pankaj Chaturvedi, Director, ACTREC.

The central government needs to bring in a statutory health warning on alcohol too, as it is with tobacco, Chaturvedi told businessline. Alcohol is the second most preventable cause of non-communicable diseases (after tobacco), he said, adding “today 60 per cent of deaths are because of the non-communicable diseases... like we have the policy for tobacco control, we need a policy on alcohol control, which is missing.” Tobacco products are restricted near schools, they have warnings and so on, he said, adding that consumers need to make an informed choice on alcohol as well. Calling for the “deglamourisation” of alcohol, Dr Chaturvedi pointed out that it was presently easily accessible and promoted through events, celebrities and surrogate advertising.

The 10-year multi-centre study compared 1,803 people with confirmed buccal mucosa cancer (mouth cancer) and a control group of 1,903 randomly selected people free of the disease (2010 and 2021). The study was funded by the Union Health Ministry’s Department of Health Research, and has been published in BMJ Global Health.

“Each of the participants provided information on the duration, frequency, and type of alcohol they drank from among 11 internationally recognised drinks, including beer, whisky, vodka, rum and breezer (flavoured alcoholic drinks); and 30 locally brewed drinks, including mahua, desi daru, and tharra. Compared with those who didn’t drink any alcohol, the risk was 68 per cent higher for those who did. ..... Among locally produced, country liquors use had highest risk,” a note in the study said.

Local brews

Rajesh Dikshit, Director, Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, said it was not clear why local brews fared worse, and it could be from the manufacturing or contamination. Responding to possible backlash from the alcoholic beverages industry, he said, “We are not activists. We are scientists. So, whatever we observe.... we have said.”

Sudeep Gupta, Director Tata Memorial Centre, said, “Alcoholic beverages have been classified as a Group I carcinogen and in addition to oral cavity cancer, these are also responsible for seven other cancer sites. He echoed the IARC WHO statement that “Strong alcohol policies are among the smartest investments you can make”, a note on the study said.

Published on December 24, 2025