Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s plan to tackle alcohol misuse in young Australians could significantly reduce future cancer burden and is a milestone step towards addressing Australia’s dangerous drinking culture, The Cancer Council Australia said today.
Chair of The Cancer Council Australia’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee, Terry Slevin, said convincing evidence linked alcohol consumption to seven cancer forms, including highly prevalent breast and bowel cancers.
“Research shows that young people who regularly abuse alcohol are at higher risk of becoming longer-term drinkers and therefore at significantly higher lifetime risk of developing breast, bowel, liver, oesophagus, larynx, pharynx and mouth cancers,” Mr Slevin said.
“More than 2,800 new cancer cases and 1,300 cancer deaths each year are caused by alcohol, so effective, long-term measures to reduce alcohol consumption could prevent premature death and disease in many thousands of Australians.
“The Government’s plan to combine community education, early intervention and social marketing is an effective formula in public health, and in this case could reduce the burden of cancer and other chronic diseases at a time when our health system will face the strain of population ageing.”
Mr Slevin said evidence of a cardiac health benefit associated with very moderate alcohol consumption had led to dangerous misconceptions that drinking was “good for you”.
“When it comes to cancer, there is no risk-free level of alcohol consumption, and the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of developing cancer,” he said. “The evidence base linking alcohol with cancer is growing, with lung and stomach cancers also showing a potential association with alcohol.
“The alcohol industry and its allies in Australia are a very powerful lobby. We are optimistic that the Prime Minister’s plan will put public health and safety ahead of commercial interests.”
Mr Slevin said The Cancer Council Australia had called for the National Health and Medical Research Council’s drinking guidelines to recommend a limit of one standard drink a day for women, consistent with evidence on minimising cancer risk.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Paul Grogan, 0409 456 727; paul.grogan@cancer.org.au
Glen Turner, 0412 443 212; glen.turner@cancer.org.au