1 DRINK A DAY RAISES BREAST CANCER RISK
WOMEN have been warned to drink less than a unit of alcohol a day or risk getting breast cancer.
A small glass of wine ‘every other day’ is the maximum amount women can drink before their risk of the deadly disease rises.
The recommendation is far lower than current official guidelines, which allow men and women to drink up to 14 units of alcohol a week.
The warning was issued by one of Scotland’s leading cancer experts, Professor Annie Anderson, co-director of the Scottish Cancer Prevention network.
She admits she ‘would hate’ to be seen as ‘telling women what to do’ but said they should consider drinking out of smaller glasses, buying half-bottles of wine instead of full bottles and choosing nonalcoholic options to reduce their risk of breast cancer.
The warning is based on the latest evidence, which shows the risk of breast cancer starts to increase after drinking
levels of just one unit a day. The alcohol habits of Scots are under increasing scrutiny from health experts because of the nation’s high drinking rates.
Almost 47million litres of pure alcohol were sold in Scotland last year – 20.2 units per adult per week – which would equate to around nine medium glasses of wine, or nine pints of beer per adult per week.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Scotland, with more than 4,500 new cases diagnosed each year.
Professor Anderson said: ‘The latest evidence on alcohol and breast cancer shows that the risk starts to increase after drinking around one unit a day – the equivalent of just over seven units a week. So this is actually at a relatively low level. We need to get this message across to women without being seen to preach to them.
‘Telling women to be teetotal is, I think, unrealistic. The guidance is that it is best not to drink at all, but drinking alcohol is so normalised and socially expected that I don’t think we can really do that unless that is what women want to do. It’s unfortunate for women that there is a specific risk of breast cancer from drinking at low levels, unlike the evidence on other health problems from alcohol which come in at higher levels of drinking, but we are all in this together.
‘It’s not just the big drinkers that are at risk of breast cancer, and that is the problem. I would hate to be seen as telling women what to do, but there is a duty to report what the evidence is saying even when it is difficult.
‘The message is to drink as
‘Not just the big drinkers at risk’
little as possible. For example, drink one unit, or one small glass of wine every other day, or drink from a smaller glass, or buy a half bottle of wine instead of a full bottle or try low alcohol drinks.
‘To organisations putting on functions – don’t serve alcohol or serve limited amounts of alcohol, although the problem is that alcohol is so bound up with the notion of hospitality.
‘The question is, how do we get over this challenge of getting the message across? We have got the evidence there and how do we communicate it without being nanny-state about it? As it is, many people find it hard to keep to the recommended weekly limits anyway.
‘There are personal changes that women can make but it can be really challenging particularly in social situations.’
Last night, critics questioned the government advice. David Roberts, of the alcohol industry group the Alcohol Information Partnership, said: ‘Women do need to be aware of their own health. But we are talking about risk. An elevated risk does not mean you will get cancer.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Drinking any amount of alcohol regularly carries a health risk, but if men and women limit their intake to less than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of cancer, heart disease and liver disease low.’