Alcohol-related cancers on the rise, finds AHA report

By Emily Kearns

Published: 22 March, 2013

A recent Alcohol Health Alliance UK report has found an increase in cases of alcohol-related cancer, despite the link between the two having been established for several decades.

According to the report, Alcohol and Cancer, hospital admissions for those suffering with alcohol-related cancers have increased by 28% in eight years.

The AHA claims that, despite the link between alcohol and cancer having been established for several decades, four out of 10 people are unaware of the connection.

Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the AHA, said: "This report clearly demonstrates that alcohol is one of the most important preventable causes of cancer in the UK and provides yet more evidence of the need for strong government action, including a minimum unit price for alcohol.

"The UK's unhealthy relationship with alcohol is putting more and more strain on the NHS, police and families as the nation struggles to cope with the rising tide of harm caused by alcohol misuse."

According to the report, people in the UK are drinking much more than they were 50 years ago, with alcohol consumption per head up by 91% between 1960 and 2010.

Sarah Woolnough, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said: "There's strong scientific evidence that alcohol increases the risk of a range of different cancers, but this still comes as a surprise to many drinkers. It's not just heavier drinkers who are at risk - the more you can cut down on alcohol, the better.

"Cancer Research UK recommends that people try to stay within recommended government guidelines to reduce their risk of alcohol-related cancer; this means no more three to four units a day for men or two to three units for women.

"Simple things like having more drink-free days, or swapping every other drink for something soft, could really help cut the risk of cancer. We are also calling on the government to take steps to make alcohol less affordable and attractive, which will help reduce the amount of alcohol people drink."

Each year 12,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers and around 3,200 people die from these diseases. Alcohol can cause seven types of cancer - mouth, larynx, oesophagus, pharynx, bowel, breast and liver.

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