Alcohol

Cancer Council Australia estimates that anywhere between 2,182 and 6,620 cases of cancer (or 1.9 - 5.8% of all cancers) are attributable to long-term, chronic use of alcohol each year in Australia.

Alcohol consumption causes cancers of the breast, mouth, pharynx and larynx, oesophagus, liver and bowel (in men) and probably increases the risk of bowel (in women).

The more alcohol consumed over a lifetime, the greater the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers. Therefore, moderating alcohol consumption, particularly over the long term, is an important objective for reducing Australia's cancer burden.

The alcohol and cancer chapter of our National Cancer Prevention Policy contains detailed information on reducing the burden of alcohol-related cancer in Australia. The chapter contains specific policy recommendations and an overview of the evidence to support them.

For more detailed information on a range of policy issues concerning alcohol and cancer, see our suite of alcohol position statements.