Past research has shown that drinking alcohol is linked to a higher chance of developing colorectal cancer. Higher lifetime intake is tied to greater cancer risk, with rectal cancer showing the strongest association. During 20 years of follow-up, colorectal cancer was diagnosed in 1,679 of the 88,092 participants. Compared with people who averaged <1 drink per week over their lifetime, heavy drinkers had a 25% higher risk of colorectal cancer. "Our study is one of the first to explore how drinking alcohol over the life course relates to both colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk.