Alcohol awareness

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Alcohol is an established carcinogen, although community awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer is lower compared to other lifestyle risk factors.

Alcoholic drinks increase the risk of cancers of the mouth and throat. They also increase the risk of breast cancer in women and bowel cancer in men (and probably in women too).

From a cancer prevention perspective, there is no 'safe' level of consumption identified for alcohol.

The evidence also shows that all types of alcoholic drinks have the same effect, so it doesn't matter whether it is red wine or beer; it is the amount of alcohol itself that increases the risk of cancer.

If you drink at all, the Australian Alcohol Guidelines recommend the following for adults:

  • For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces your risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury over a lifetime.
  • For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest option is not to drink alcohol.
  • If you are breastfeeding, the safest option is not to drink alcohol.

For more information on the Australian Alcohol Guidelines please visit: http://www.alcohol.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/guidelines

What is considered one drink?

  • One 285 mL pot/middy of full strength beer (4.9 per cent Alc./Vol).
  • One 375 mL stubbie of mid strength beer (3.5 per cent Alc./Vol).
  • A small glass (100 mL) of wine (12 per cent Alc./Vol).
  • Two-thirds of a 330 mL bottle of alcoholic soda (5.5 per cent Alc./Vol).
  • A nip (30 mL) of spirit or liqueur (40 per cent Alc./Vol).
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