Alcohol Related Cancers in UK Will Rise, Says Study

18 Nov 2016 --- Alcohol consumption will cause around 135,000 cancer deaths over the next 20 years costing the NHS an estimated £2 billion ($1,241,396,251) in treatments, according to estimates from a new report by Sheffield University, commissioned by Cancer Research UK.

The new figures, published today reveal that by 2035 the UK could see around 7,100 cancer deaths every year that are associated with alcohol.

These latest statistics follow a Cancer Research UK study published earlier in the year that showed 9 in 10 people are unaware of the link between alcohol and cancer.

Of the cancer types included in today’s report, oesophageal cancer is set to see the largest increase, followed by bowel cancer, mouth and throat cancer, breast cancer and liver cancer.

The report also forecasts that there will be over 1.2 million hospital admissions for cancer over the 20 year period, which will cost the NHS £100 million ($124,156,261) on average, every year.

The report has stirred concerns about alcohol regulation and whether or not the industry is doing enough to inform consumers about the risks of alcohol consumption. 

Talking with NutritionInsight, Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: "At present, there are no mandatory requirements for alcohol labels, as alcohol is exempt from the labelling regulations that require ingredients listings and calorie information on all other food and drink."

"Consequently, consumers get more information about the contents of milk than they do for a bottle of wine. It is not surprising voluntary commitments by producers to label their products with health information have not proven to be effective. It is without question, consumers need clear, independent advice on health risks and mandatory labeling of alcohol products with clear, legible information that is easy to see and understand would help allow drinkers to make informed choices."

"Public opinion polls show that nine in 10 of Britons don’t associate alcohol with cancer, which makes the case for taking action urgent. This is an issue of consumer rights: every drinker has the right to know and the government has a duty to inform them about the health risks associated with alcohol."

The results of the new study were based on analyses that assume alcohol drinking trends will follow those seen over the last 40 years, yet taking recent falls in alcohol consumption, including among young people, into account.

A spokesperson from Alcohol Information Partnership told NutritionInsight: "Industry support a range of partnerships across the country that are working to encourage sensible alcohol consumption. For example the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) involve retailers, licensees, public services and industry, all working together to tackle problems of under age drinking and anti social behaviour. The number of CAPs is increasing and there are now over 100 across the country."

The study makes a contribution to understanding the risks associated with drinking too much. However, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 the UK overall alcohol-attributable cancer death rate has fallen by 7.5% since 2005.

"In addition government data consistently shows that alcohol consumption in the UK has been falling for the past decade, that young people are drinking less and that harmful drinking is in decline," they say. "We are also seeing less alcohol related crime and anti- social behaviour. The vast majority of people drink within the governments guidelines and an increasing number are choosing not to drink alcohol at all. The trends are all very positive yet there is still more to be done to help those most at risk and consuming harmful levels of alcohol."

Dave Roberts, Director General at Alcohol Information Partnership added: "The challenge with news like today's is that it speaks only about one new piece of a complex puzzle; there's no context relating it to other studies and providing analysis of the broader evidence base. The most important thing is for consumers and their GPs to have access to accurate, balanced information about the risks and benefits of drinking. The industry acknowledges the risks of immoderate consumption, promotes responsible consumption, and works closely with communities, governments, and charities to tackle the problems of underage drinking and anti-social behavior." 

Current UK government guidelines, published earlier this year, advise that both men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. Evidence suggests that the more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk of cancer.

The report also examines the impact of introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol in England, suggesting that over 20 years, a 50p (0.62¢) minimum price per units of alcohol could reduce deaths linked to alcohol by around 7,200, including around 670 cancer deaths.

The study states it would also reduce healthcare costs by £1.3 billion. ($1,278,657,656)

This follows a recent court decision in Scotland which found that a minimum unit price would not break European law.

Alison Cox, the Director of Prevention at Cancer Research UK, says, “These new figures reveal the devastating impact alcohol will have over the coming years.”

“That’s why it’s hugely important the public are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, and what they can do to improve their risk.”

“If we are to change the nation’s drinking habits and try to mitigate the impact alcohol will have, then national health campaigns are needed to provide clear information about the health risks of drinking alcohol.”

Ian Gilmore adds, “These latest figures show the serious consequences for individuals, the NHS and society if the UK government continues to ignore the consequences of the nation’s drinking.”

“In particular they reinforce the need for a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol. It is clear from the report that MUP will save lives, including those lost to cancer, and ease the burden on our health service.”

“Importantly, MUP will do this while leaving moderate drinkers and prices in pubs and bars unaffected.”

“In addition, we need mandatory health information on the labels of all alcoholic products, informing the public of the link between alcohol and cancer, and the new low-risk drinking guidelines.”

“The public have the right to know about how their drinking impacts their health, so that they are empowered to make informed choices.”

by Hannah Gardiner