Drinking less alcohol each year could save many lives in Australia, especially among older adults, according to a new study led by La Trobe University.
The study found that if every person in Australia drank just one liter less of alcohol each year, it could lead to fewer deaths from several major types of cancer.
The research looked at more than 70 years of data on alcohol and tobacco use, cancer deaths, and health spending in Australia. It focused on how long-term alcohol use affects deaths from four alcohol-related cancers. The study was published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The results showed that alcohol has played a big role in cancer deaths, especially for people aged 50 and older. The researchers found that long-term drinking was linked to about 45% of male deaths and 21% of female deaths from cancers in the mouth, throat, and esophagus (also called upper aerodigestive tract cancers).
It was also responsible for about 48% of male liver cancer deaths and 14% of female breast cancer deaths. In colorectal (bowel) cancer, alcohol was linked to 15% of male deaths and 4% of female deaths.
The numbers are higher than in past studies, showing how alcohol damage builds up over decades of drinking.
But there is good news. The researchers also found that if people in Australia reduced their drinking by just one liter of alcohol per person each year, the number of deaths could go down significantly. For example, there would be:
3.6% fewer deaths from mouth and throat cancers in men, and 3.4% fewer in women
3.9% fewer male liver cancer deaths
1.2% fewer male colorectal cancer deaths and 0.7% fewer in women
2.3% fewer breast cancer deaths in women
Associate Professor Jason Jiang, who led the study, said this is the first time long-term data has been used to measure the link between alcohol and cancer deaths in Australia. He believes the results clearly show that cutting back on alcohol could prevent many cancer deaths, especially in older adults.
The study also suggests that stronger public health policies could help reduce drinking across the population. Some ideas include increasing alcohol taxes, reducing how easily alcohol can be bought, and limiting alcohol advertising. These steps have already been shown to help reduce drinking in other countries.
The Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risk from Drinking Alcohol recommend that men and women drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week, and no more than four on any one day. These guidelines aim to lower the long-term risk of health problems like cancer, heart disease, and mental illness.
While the World Health Organization says that no amount of alcohol is completely safe when it comes to cancer, following drinking guidelines would still greatly reduce the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers.
This study was done by researchers from La Trobe University, the University of Melbourne, Curtin University, and other partners. It used national data and advanced analysis tools to reach its findings.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
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