Health experts are urging the UK to place clear cancer warnings on alcoholic drinks, after new research linked alcohol to seven types of cancer. These include breast, bowel, liver, mouth, and stomach cancers.
The World Cancer Research Fund says labels should carry “strong, clear messages” instead of vague advice like “drink in moderation.” Dr. Liz O’Riordan, a breast cancer specialist who has battled the disease three times, warned: “There is no safe level of alcohol consumption and people need to know that.”
According to Cancer Research UK, even one drink a day can raise breast cancer risk by 10%. Drinking more than three pints daily increases the risk of cancers in the mouth, neck, bowel, and liver. Experts stress that cutting back is one of the few ways to reduce personal risk.
The NHS advises no more than 14 units a week—about six pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine. However, health groups say the safest option is to drink less or not at all. “If you want to lower your cancer risk, you need to cut down,” Dr. O’Riordan added.
