Drinking red wine causes cancer.

Is it true that drinking red wine causes cancer?

Partly. The CDC states that all alcoholic drinks, including red wine, increase cancer risk, and a review notes alcohol's associated cancer risks. However, a meta-analysis found no increased lung cancer risk from wine, and an in-vitro study found red wine inhibits cancer cell growth, so the evidence is mixed and does not fully settle whether red wine causes cancer.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 3 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Drinking. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking

Chen, S., Yi, Y., Xia, T., Hong, Z., Zhang, Y., Shi, G., He, Z., & Zhong, S. (2018). The influences of red wine in phenotypes of human cancer cells. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2018.10.049

Alcohol and Cancer | Cancer | CDC. (n.d.). cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/alcohol.html

MA, A., D, M., M, B., Z, V., M, R., M, B., & MÁ, M. (2026). The Unfinished Debate on Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages: Conflicting Evidence, Public Health Messages and the Missing Trial.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030529

C, B., C, G., G, B., & R, F. (2025). Wine Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081322

Serio, F., Imbriani, G., Acito, M., Moretti, M., Fanizzi, F., Donno, A. d., & Valacchi, G. (2023). Moderate red wine intake and cardiovascular health protection: a literature review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3fo01004j