Alcohol is one of the most important preventable causes of cancer in the UK. The more a person drinks overall the higher their risk of developing cancer, yet even drinking within current guidelines can increase the risk for certain cancers. There is no level of drinking that can be considered ‘safe’ from the risk of cancer.

Despite these risks, the UK population continues to drink substantially more than we did 50 years ago. The solution is clear – reducing how much people drink overall will reduce their risk of cancer.

This report draws on the latest research to explain the relationship between alcohol and cancer and why this is a problem that the UK needs to tackle now. It calls for the implementation of key strategies to lower the amount the UK population drinks as a whole and to support those who drink excessively to cut down.

Contents:
Introduction p.1
The relationship between alcohol and cancer p.3
• What is the evidence that drinking alcohol can cause cancer?
• How does alcohol cause cancer?
• Is this only a problem for heavy drinkers?
• What is a unit of alcohol?
• What happens if you smoke as well as drink?
• What if someone cuts down the amount of alcohol they drink?
• What about the health benefits of drinking alcohol?
Alcohol-related cancer in the UK p.8