A new study indicates alcohol is associated with cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, colon and breast, according to recent research published in the medical journal The Lancet Oncology.

The research, conducted by Paolo Boffetta and Mia Hashibe of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, found a causal association between the types of cancer and alcohol consumption.

Students should only have one drink an hour because that is the amount of alcohol the average liver can process, University Health Services Educational Services Coordinator Linda LaSalle said.

More than one drink an hour sends the liver into overdrive, LaSalle said.

"Alcohol does not process in the body very well," she said.

The ethanol in alcohol that is metabolized in the liver turns into enzymes that are toxic to the body, Dr. Gary Clawson, director of Penn State's Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Foundation, said. This can lead to cell death in the liver that is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to liver dysfunction.

"Anything is toxic to the body if it is taken in excess," Hanson said. "We need salt in our bodies, but too much of it is bad. Our bodies produce alcohol, but too much is toxic."

It is clear that alcohol can increase risks of some type of cancer, but the causes are unknown.

"[Other than liver cancer] many other cancers are also related to alcohol intake, although the mechanisms are often not clear," Clawson said.

Although there is a direct relationship between alcohol intake and increased risks of cancer, it is not known exactly how this relationship works, Dr. Evan Pattishall, UHS clinical services director, said.

"One theory is that alcohol decreases the body's ability to keep out diseases and illnesses," Pattishall said. "A second theory is that acetaldehyde [an alcohol compound that is broken down by the body] is a cancer-causing compound."

Pattishall recommends college students do not exceed more than one drink a day and avoid binge drinking.

Experts recommend that no one drinks in excess, but they do say that moderate consumption is suggested, because it may benefit a person's health.

"Drinking in moderation drastically reduces the chance of a heart attacks, the leading cause of death [in the U.S.]," Professor David Hanson said. "But you need to know your family history, because if you have breast cancer in your family, you better think twice [about drinking even in moderation]."

There has been evidence that a glass of red or even white wine a day can benefit only cardiovascular health, Pattishall said.

"Drinking in moderation is associated with better health and longevity," Hanson said. "Evidence of this has been growing over decades."

Rebecca Entler, president of Colleges Against Cancer, said she doesn't think drinking is healthy at all.

"Today's youth is educated enough to know that if you're going to drink, you should have only a reasonable intake," Entler said. "Because there is a link between drinking, smoking and cancer."

Clawson said cancer is age related, so college students aren't at high risks and can take precautions to decrease risks.

"I think, by far, the most important step to take [in reducing cancer risks] is not smoking," he said.