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The facts about alcohol

This factsheet explains how limiting how much alcohol you drink can help reduce your risk of cancer

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Infographic titled “The Facts About Alcohol,” explaining what alcohol is, its link to increased cancer risk, and recommended alcohol guidelines. Features illustrations of drinks and the World Cancer Research Fund logo.
Logo with text Trusted Information Creator next to a large green tick. Below, in italics, it reads Patient Information Forum. The design is enclosed by a turquoise outline.
Publication date: July 2023
Next review date: July 2026

 

 

Alcohol factsheet

One of World Cancer Research Fund’s Cancer Prevention Recommendations is to limit how much alcohol you drink, as there is strong scientific evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of 7 cancers.

This factsheet explains:

  • What alcohol is
  • Why you should be drinking less alcohol to support your health
  • Tips on how to cut down on how much alcohol you drink
Find out more about the link between alcohol and cancer

Try one of our non-alcoholic drinks

Affogato
A glass cup filled with dark coffee, topped with a dollop of cream, sits on a table surrounded by coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, and a blurred background with another cup and a plant.

Affogato

Our affogato recipe is dessert and coffee rolled into one

3 ratings
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Alcohol-free G&T
Alcohol-free G&T

Alcohol-free G&T

Enjoy the crisp tones in our no-alcohol G&T, with a grapefruit twist. All our recipes are alcohol-free, as alcohol is a cause of 7 cancers

3 ratings
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Apple and carrot smoothie
Two glasses of thick orange smoothie with striped straws, surrounded by slices of toasted bread and a peeled banana on a table.

Apple and carrot smoothie

Have smoothies as a snack or with toast and cereal at breakfast

6 ratings
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Mouth cancer and what you can do to prevent it

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Why is saying ‘No thanks’ so difficult when someone offers you a drink?
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Why is saying ‘No thanks’ so difficult when someone offers you a drink?

Steering clear of alcohol when spending time with friends or family shouldn’t be a minefield – especially when the science says it’s so bad for your health

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Coffee protects against liver cancer while alcohol is linked with numerous cancers
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Coffee protects against liver cancer while alcohol is linked with numerous cancers

Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for several cancers including head & neck (mouth, pharynx, larynx), oesophageal and bowel cancer – as well as the more widely known links to breast and liver cancer

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