Alcohol use, intentions to reduce consumption, and perceived motivations and barriers among cancer survivors

To characterize alcohol use patterns, awareness of alcohol's oncologic risks, and efforts and intentions to reduce consumption among cancer survivors in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Cross-sectional survey of 471 cancer survivors aged ≥21 years enrolled in two state-wide, online panels. Participants reported their current or former alcohol use, completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification (AUDIT), and replied to a series of items regarding any efforts to reduce consumption and related motivations and barriers.

Among 471 survivors, 34.2% of which had an alcohol-related cancer, 65.8% were current alcohol users and 29.1% former alcohol users. Awareness that alcohol increases cancer risk was reported by 49.7% of current and 48.2% of former alcohol users. Among current alcohol users, 26.5% would like to reduce consumption within the next 6 months, with this subset consuming a median of seven drinks/week and 23.2% having an AUDIT score ≥8. Negative impacts on cardiovascular health and memory were top health concerns related to alcohol use, while using alcohol to socialize and for stress relief were key obstacles to reducing consumption.

A substantial proportion of cancer survivors consume alcohol, with limited awareness of its oncologic risks. Even among this sample of largely moderate alcohol users, a considerable portion wished to reduce their alcohol use. Educational and behavioral interventions targeting cancer survivors are needed to raise awareness about alcohol risks and address barriers to reducing alcohol consumption. The 2025 U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory identifying alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer lends urgency to these efforts, and focusing on that role may improve overall survivorship.