Mouth Cancer Causes: If you stop drinking, they say that even doctors advise drinking one peg of 30 ml, but this study will remove this misconception.

How does mouth cancer occur?

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in men in India. Tobacco is often considered the cause of oral cancer, but a new study from the Tata Memorial Center in Mumbai will shock you. This study reveals that alcohol is the cause of 62 percent of oral cancer cases in India. Furthermore, the risk increases for those who consume tobacco along with alcohol.

When was this study conducted?

The study, published in the journal BMJ Global Health in December 2025, was conducted on 3,706 men between 2010 and 2021. These included 1,803 oral cancer patients and 1,903 healthy individuals. These individuals were recruited from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and ACTREC (Kharghar).

What does this research say?

• Drinking alcohol increases the risk significantly: Whether it is branded beer, whiskey, wine, or local liquor like Mahua, Toddy, Tharra, the risk of mouth cancer increases.
• Even one drink is enough: Drinking just 9 grams of alcohol a day (one standard drink) increases the risk by 50 percent. Even less than 2 grams of beer increases the risk.  
• Alcohol is also dangerous: 17 percent of mouth cancer cases are caused by alcohol alone.  
• How dangerous is tobacco? Tobacco products like gutkha and khaini cause 37% of oral cancer cases.
• Both together: Consuming alcohol and tobacco together increases the risk by 4-5 times and accounts for 62% of cases.
• What are the effects of alcohol? Alcohol produces acetaldehyde in the body, which damages DNA. Most people in India have genes that break down alcohol slowly. This causes this toxic substance to remain in the body for a longer period of time, increasing the risk of cancer.

What does the doctor say?

According to Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, head of the oral and throat cancer department at the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, alcohol is considered a Group 1 cancer-causing agent. India has a policy on tobacco, but not on alcohol. Celebrity endorsements and surrogate endorsements should be stopped. The notion that drinking a little is okay is wrong. There is no safe limit for alcohol.

What are the symptoms of mouth cancer?

• Mouth sores or ulcers that last for more than 2 weeks
• white or red patches on the lips or in the mouth  
• A lump or swelling in the mouth  
• Difficulty swallowing or speaking
• A lump in the neck. Bad breath or bleeding.
• How to prevent it?  

Quit alcohol and tobacco completely

• Stay away from gutkha, khaini, pan masala, and betel nut  
• Maintain oral hygiene, brush regularly, and have regular checkups
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables