Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of some types of cancer. In this blog you’ll find an overview of the risks of drinking alcohol and things you can do to reduce how much you drink.
How does drinking alcohol impact cancer risk?
Drinking alcohol forms a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde damages your DNA and prevents your body from repairing the damage. DNA controls a cell’s normal growth and function, so when DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a tumour.
Which cancer are you more likely to get if you drink alcohol?
Some studies show that drinking three or more alcoholic drinks per day increases the risk of:
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Some types of throat cancer including the oesophagus and larynx
- Prostate cancer
Drinking alcohol can also be responsible for other types of cancers such as breast cancer, bowel cancer, cancers of the colon/rectum, and mouth cancers.
In this short video, Dr Seema Dadhania, NHS clinical oncologist talks through how drinking alcohol can cause cancer, and gives advise for reducing your risk of cancer related to alcohol consumption.
Is there a 'safe' level of alcohol to drink?
According the NHS guidelines, drinking less than 14 units a week is considered low-risk drinking. It is called "low risk" rather than safe because there's no safe drinking level.
How can I drink less?
Here are a few ideas to help you reduce your alcohol consumption:
- Start to track your alcohol intake so you know how much you’re drinking and when you’re reaching the recommended level. Remember to spread it out over the week.
- Take several drink-free days each week.
- Try low or no-alcohol alternatives. There are lots of options you can try, including alcohol-free wine, spirits, and beers, or making different “mocktails”.
- Choose to have a small glass of wine rather than a large glass, or half a pint of beer instead of a pint when socialising.
- Tell friends and family you are trying to get healthier and so are cutting down on drink so they can support you
- Choose other ways to socialise that doesn’t involve alcohol. You could have a games night, cook dinner, go for a walk or run, go to the cinema, or have a movie night at home.
What are the health beenfits of drinking less alcohol?
There are many benefits to reducing your alcohol consumption, including:
- Drinking less can lower your risk of stroke, hypertension, cancer, and liver disease.
- It can also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Reducing or cutting out alcohol can lead to better mood, memory and quality of sleep.