Drinking tea or coffee at “very hot” temperatures could triple the risk of developing a specific type of cancer in the food pipe, according to a major study of nearly one million UK adults.
The research, led by Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford and published on 9 September 2026, tracked the health of 977,282 people for an average of 14 years. It found a significant link between the temperature at which people consume hot beverages and the incidence of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
While the overall lifetime risk of this specific cancer remains relatively low in the UK, those who reported drinking their beverages “very hot” were three times more likely to develop the disease compared to those who preferred them “warm”.
Specific risks for frequent drinkers
The study also highlighted how the volume of consumption affects risk. Researchers found that individuals drinking six or more hot drinks a day saw a 71% increase in the risk of SCC.
Crucially, the study distinguished between the two main types of oesophageal cancer. While the link to squamous cell carcinoma was strong, researchers found no clear association between drink temperature and adenocarcinoma, which is the other common form of the disease in the UK.
Dr Keren Papier, who led the research at Oxford, noted that this large-scale UK data supports similar findings previously observed in populations in Asia and South America, where tea is traditionally consumed at much higher temperatures.
How to reduce the risk
Health experts say that simple changes to daily routines can effectively negate the risk associated with hot drinks. According to The Guardian, Cancer Research UK suggests that the risk can be managed without giving up tea or coffee entirely.
Practical advice for regular tea and coffee drinkers includes:
- Waiting a few minutes for a freshly brewed drink to cool before the first sip.
- Adding a splash of cold milk, which significantly lowers the temperature of the liquid.
- Being mindful of persistent symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or persistent indigestion, and consulting a GP if they occur.
While the temperature of drinks is a factor, health officials advise that allowing drinks to cool provides protection against the disease.