NCD Watch

Reducing Cancer Risk - Avoid Drinking

30 Sep 2013 (Mon)

Alcohol consumption, like smoking, is one of the most well-established causes of cancer in humans. In fact, "ethanol in alcoholic beverages" and "acetaldehyde associated with alcohol consumption" (acetaldehyde is the main metabolite of ethanol in the body) have both been classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. Epidemiologic studies have clearly indicated that alcohol drinking causes cancers of oral cavity, pharynx (excluding nasopharynx), larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum, and female breasts.

A household survey conducted by the Census and Statistics Department in 2009/10 on the health status among Hong Kong residents aged 15 and above revealed that over 594 000 people (or 10.2% of the population in the same age group) had a habit of consuming alcoholic drinks. A telephone survey conducted by the Department of Health on over 2 000 community-dwelling people aged 18-64 in 2012 found that 16.7% of respondents drank at least once a week during the 30 days before the survey.

When it comes to cancer risk, there is NO safe level for alcohol consumption. Regular alcohol use, even consumed in only small amounts, increases the risk of dying from cancer. The sound advice is therefore not to start drinking at all. But for current drinkers, there is also good news: if they stop drinking now, their cancer risk will gradually return to that before they started drinking. In addition, stopping drinking can reduce the risk of many other non-communicable diseases, including alcoholic gastritis, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis and fibrosis, depression, dementia as well as injuries.

So, it is never too late to stop (or cut down on) drinking!