Soda Linked to More Than Double the Risk of Stomach Cancer

People who drink at least one sugar-sweetened beverage a day may have more than double the risk of developing stomach cancer. This is shown by a new American study, which for the first time identifies a link between soda and stomach cancer. The researchers emphasize, however, that the results do not prove that soda causes cancer.

Sugar-sweetened beverages have long been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Now, new research points to yet another potential health risk.

In the study, published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances, researchers analyzed data from more than 112,000 people who participated in two large, long-term U.S. studies. Participants regularly reported their food and beverage habits while researchers tracked their health and disease outcomes. Between 1986 and 2022, there were 278 cases of stomach cancer among the participants.

People who reported drinking at least one sugar-sweetened beverage per day – equivalent to at least 237 milliliters – had a 2.45 times higher risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who did not drink such beverages. The association was seen in both men and women. For women, the observed risk was about three times higher, and for men about double.

According to the researchers, the drinks in question include sodas, lemonade, sports drinks and other sugar-containing beverages. However, no corresponding link was identified for drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

The researchers are also careful with their conclusions. The study is observational, which means it can reveal a statistical association but cannot establish that soda intake itself causes cancer. In addition, the researchers had limited information about infection with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium known to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Other underlying factors may also have influenced the results.

A possible explanation, according to the researchers, is that high consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance, and inflammation. They also mention hormonal changes, DNA damage, and changes in the gut and stomach microbiome as potential mechanisms but emphasize that the exact biological mechanism is not yet clear.

Stomach cancer is a serious disease and is globally the fifth most common cause of cancer death. This new study therefore means that additional research is needed to see whether this link can be confirmed in other populations.

More Countries Imposing Taxes on Soda

The research findings come as more governments are implementing taxes to try to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 115 member countries had some form of national tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. An international study published in 2026 found that 64 countries had introduced such taxes between 1990 and 2024.

One of the most notable examples is Mexico, which introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2014. The United Kingdom and South Africa have also imposed such taxes, with the UK using a model where drinks with higher sugar content are taxed at a higher rate.

WHO states that taxes can not only reduce consumption but also encourage producers to reformulate their products and lower the sugar content.

The UK’s model is particularly interesting because the tax was designed to get producers to lower the sugar content. The so-called Soft Drinks Industry Levy applies to drinks containing five grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, with an even higher tax rate from eight grams upwards. In England, the revenue is used, among other things, to support children’s physical activity and healthy eating initiatives.

There are also examples where revenue from the tax is used directly for health programs. In Berkeley, California, a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages was introduced in 2015. The revenue helps fund school cooking and gardening programs as well as local health projects. In 2026 and 2027, about $2.3 million was allocated to such initiatives.

Berkeley is also an example of how the tax can be combined with efforts to make healthy alternatives cheaper or more accessible. Earlier evaluations have shown that sales of sugar-sweetened beverages fell while water sales increased.

Proposals: More Expensive Soda – Cheaper Fruit and Vegetables

Using tax revenue from unhealthy products to make healthier food cheaper has also been studied. Researchers have, among other things, modeled systems where a soda tax is used to subsidize fruit and vegetables.

An American study found that a combination of a soda tax and subsidies on fruit and vegetables could help reduce the economic burden on low-income households. In the model where fruit and vegetables were subsidized by 50 percent, low-income households as a group experienced a net financial gain, though the effect varied between different households.

Similar models have been studied in Canada. One research study compared a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages with a 20 percent subsidy on fruit and vegetables and found that the combination could bring both health and economic benefits.