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North Tyneside Council is backing the Alcohol Causes Cancer campaign, launched today by regional alcohol programme, Balance North East.
If you drink alcohol, how do your drinks add up? And are they putting your health at risk?
Most of us know smoking causes cancer. But alcohol is a direct cause of at least seven types of cancer including bowel, breast, mouth and throat cancer.
It’s not just heavy drinkers at risk. Just one or two drinks a day can increase the risk of some cancers and increase the more you drink. And any type of alcohol is carcinogenic, whether it is wine, beer or spirits.
The best way to reduce your risk is to cut down and limit your drinking:
Drink no more than 14 units a week (about six glasses of wine, six double spirits or six pints of lager) spread out over several days.
Take more drink free days to give your body a break.
Try the quiz at ReduceMyRisk.tv to see how your drinks add up and find out about ways to cut down.
Cllr Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “Alcohol is a cause of some cancers. That means if you drink most days or binge drink at the weekend, you’re probably drinking above the recommended limits and putting your health at risk.
“Alcohol can make us feel more tired and increase our risks of serious illness like cancer, high blood pressure and liver disease over time.
“Cutting down can reduce those risks.”
Regular drinking can also damage the liver and raise the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. It can worsen weight problems and worsen anxiety and depression.
UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines
- The UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance is that men and women are safest not to drink more than 14 units per week. This means low risk – not no risk
- 14 units of alcohol is around six pints of average-strength beer or six medium glasses of wine. However - just one pint of premium lager or a large glass of wine can contain more than three units of alcohol
- A good way to cut down on alcohol is to have several drink-free days each week.