Published data regarding the association between alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 1C genotypes and breast cancer risk show conflicting results. The authors performed this meta-analysis on 1969 patients and 2244 controls from 4 (including 7 study populations) related case-control studies to estimate the association between ADH1C(rs698) genotyping information and breast cancer risk. According to the 6 eligible populations, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer risk for ADH1C^1-2 versus ADH1C^2-2, ADH1C^1-1 versus ADH1C^2-2 genotype, and ADH1C¹ versus ADH1C² were 1.16 (0.95-1.42), 1.17 (0.95-1.44), and 1.05 (0.96-1.16), respectively. The OR (95% CI) for ADH1C^1-1 + ADH1C^1-2 versus ADH1C^2-2 from the 7 study populations was 1.14 (0.96-1.36). Meanwhile, genotypes of ADH1C^1-1 + ADH1C^1-2 increased the risk of breast cancer in drinkers (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.03-1.76). This meta-analysis suggested that the ADH1C¹ allele might modestly influence the effect of alcohol on breast cancer but is not an independent risk factor for breast cancer. However, more restricted prospective studies are needed.