A new study has found drinking just two standard alcoholic drinks a day significantly increases the risks of developing throat, mouth, breast and bowel cancer.
The Australian Cancer Institute report, released by the New South Wales government, draws together the results of an international audit of recent cancer research.
The report found consuming two alcoholic drinks a day increases a person’s risk of mouth cancer by 75%, and women’s risk of breast cancer by 22%.
Cancer Institute chief executive Jim Bishop says cancer is on the increase and the institute is keen to find out why.
‘We don’t want to have a general scare of people but the fact of the matter is that increased alcohol, in terms of the number of average drinks per day, will increase the risk,’ he said.
‘The risk isn’t huge – it’s around 10 to 20% per average drink – but if you have two average drinks a day every day of your life then that’s the increased risk you’re running.’
