Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Very Hot Beverages Linked to Higher Oesophageal Cancer Risk
A study looked at whether the temperature of hot drinks might be linked to a type of food-pipe cancer.
Researchers studied information from about 977,000 adults.
The people said whether they usually drank drinks warm, hot or very hot.
The researchers then followed their health for more than 10 years.
People who drank hot beverages had nearly twice the risk of oesophageal SCC compared with people who drank warm beverages.
People who drank very hot beverages had about three times the risk.
This study found a link between drink temperature and cancer risk.
It did not say that every person who drinks a hot beverage will develop cancer.
Researchers analysed health data from around 977,000 adults.
The data came from the UK Biobank and Million Women Study.
Participants reported whether they usually drank beverages warm, hot or very hot.
Those drinking hot beverages had nearly twice the risk of oesophageal SCC compared with warm-drink consumers.
Those preferring very hot beverages had about three times the risk, after more than a decade of follow-up.
- Who
- Researchers studied around 977,000 adults whose data came from the UK Biobank and Million Women Study.
- What
- The study examined whether drinking hot or very hot beverages was associated with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk.
- When
- The research was published in the International Journal of Cancer, and participants were followed for more than a decade.
- Where
- The analysis used data from the UK Biobank and Million Women Study.
- Why
- Researchers examined whether people’s usual hot-beverage temperature was associated with their later health outcomes.
- Participants
- Around 977,000 adults
- Data sources
- UK Biobank and Million Women Study
- Beverage temperatures
- Warm, hot or very hot
- Follow-up period
- More than a decade
- Hot-beverage risk
- Nearly twice the risk of oesophageal SCC compared with warm beverages
- Very-hot-beverage risk
- Around three times the risk compared with warm beverages
- Publication
- International Journal of Cancer