Do you have to be a drinker to get cirrhosis?

No: Alcohol is a common cause or contributed to developing cirrhosis, scarring in the liver. There are a multitude of other causes such as viral hepatitis or metabolic conditions which can also lead to cirrhosis.

No: Alcohol is only one cause, and in the us has now moved into 2nd place to chronic hepatitis c. However, the combination of alcohol and hep c makes cirrhosis come earlier and in a more destructive form. Worldwide, hepatitis b is the most common cause. There are other causes as well - wilson's disease (hereditary), autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and recently, obesity with fatty liver.