Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Very Hot Drinks Linked to Higher Oesophageal Cancer Risk
A large study looked at whether very hot drinks might affect the food pipe.
People who liked their drinks very hot had a higher risk of one type of oesophageal cancer.
Their risk was more than three times higher than that of people who preferred warm drinks.
People who drank six or more hot drinks each day also had a higher risk.
The study did not measure the exact temperature of every drink.
It also found no same relationship with another type of oesophageal cancer.
Researchers think repeated heat may hurt the food pipe and cause changes over time.
Letting tea or coffee cool until it is comfortable may reduce this repeated exposure.
A University of Oxford-led study examined 977,282 adults and linked very hot drinks with a higher risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Participants who preferred very hot drinks had more than three times the risk compared with those who preferred warm drinks.
Consuming six or more hot drinks daily was also associated with higher risk.
The association involved squamous cell carcinoma, not oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Researchers advised letting drinks cool until comfortable, while noting that smoking and heavy alcohol use are more established risk factors.
- Who
- Researchers led by the University of Oxford studied 977,282 adults.
- What
- The study found that very hot drinks and higher consumption were associated with increased risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
- When
- The study was published in the International Journal of Cancer; the articles do not provide a publication date.
- Where
- The research was led by the University of Oxford; the articles do not specify where participants lived.
- Why
- Researchers believe repeated heat-related injury and repair in the oesophagus may contribute to cancerous cell changes.
- Study size
- 977,282 adults
- Cancer type linked to hot drinks
- Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Reported risk
- More than three times higher for people preferring very hot drinks versus warm drinks
- Higher consumption
- Six or more hot drinks per day was associated with higher risk
- Temperature evidence
- Participants reported whether drinks were warm, hot or very hot; researchers did not measure each drink's actual temperature
- 65°C classification
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified beverages above 65°C as probably carcinogenic to humans in 2016
- Practical advice
- Cancer Research UK advises waiting until a drink is comfortable to consume