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How to drink safely

29/ 4/2008

Q Can drinking alcohol cause cancer?

A There is a lot of evidence linking excess alcohol consumption to the risk of developing and dying from cancer.

The risk is highest for cancers of the mouth, throat and gullet but is also higher for bowel cancer and liver cancer through the development of cirrhosis.

Q How much alcohol can I drink safely?

A This is a difficult question to answer, as mild to moderate alcohol intake has clear social benefits and may lead to slight health improvements by reducing heart disease. However, the increased risk for developing cancers starts when people drink more than four or five units per day - a unit being a small glass of wine (125ml), half a pint of normal strength beer or lager, or a single measure of spirits. The risk then increases the more you drink and the more often you drink.

Q Is one type of drink less dangerous than another?

A As far as developing cirrhosis is concerned all alcohol is equally harmful. But beer and spirits seem to carry a higher cancer risk than wine.

If you want to reduce the risks to your health, you should drink within the current recommended limits - 14 units per week for women and 21 units for men. Drinking above these levels starts to put your health at risk.