Cancer in the news: Alcohol: Campaign targets alcohol's cancer risk

Alcohol: Campaign targets alcohol's cancer risk

A new Cancer Council survey of 1500 people shows that less than one-fifth of respondents recognise that alcohol represents a cancer risk, despite it being linked to at least seven types of cancers, including breast, liver, mouth, throat and bowel.

The survey, released today, involved speaking to adults who drank at least two or three times a month. According to Cancer Council, alcohol consumption causes almost 3500 Australians to develop cancer each year. Only 18 per cent of respondents knew that alcohol could cause breast cancer, a quarter knew it could cause throat and mouth cancers, and just under half knew it could cause bowel cancer.

Cancer Council Victoria chief executive Todd Harper says the findings show we have a long way to go in educating people about the harms of alcohol, which has been classed as a group one carcinogen for more than 30 years.

The Sunday Age; 30/05/2021; Page 14