Schwartz N, et al. - In this analysis, researchers examined long-term trends in alcohol consumption and associations with lagged data on specific types of cancer mortality, and discussed policy implications. At the country level, they extracted data on per capita annual sales of pure alcohol; mortality for alcohol-related cancers—larynx, esophageal, and lip, oral cavity, and pharynx; and per capita consumption of tobacco products. The investigators observed a statically significant association of alcohol sales with cancer mortality in the majority of the 17 countries examined, which remained after controlling for tobacco use. Countries with increasing, decreasing, or stable trends displayed significant associations in alcohol consumption and corresponding lagged trends in alcohol-related cancer mortality. Hence, reduction in overall consumption seems beneficial for reducing the number of harms from alcohol, including cancer mortality.