Dr. Paolo Boffetta, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France, and colleagues write in the International Journal of Cancer that a causal link exists between alcohol drinking and various cancers. 3.6% of all cancer cases and 3.5% of all cancer deaths are attributable to alcohol consumption. For men, cancers of the upper GI tract were most common and for women, breast cancers were most common.

"On the other hand, there is strong evidence that moderate consumption of alcohol reduces the risk of … heart disease … stroke, and (gallstones)," Boffetta and colleagues note. "The burden of alcohol-associated cancer should be considered in the light of the evidence that alcohol drinking modifies the risk of numerous other diseases."

Bottom line is that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, imparts many health benefits. Increased consumption yields no more health benefits, while increasing the cancer risk. Moderation is the key.