Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study (EPIC) published today found that about 10% of total cancer in men and 3% in women could be attributed to current and former alcohol consumption. For cancers that are directly related to alcohol intake - oral cavity, pharynx, larynx oesophagus, liver, colorectal, and female breast cancer – alcohol above the recommendations (one and two drinks per day for women and men respectively) was accountable for 32% cancers in men and 5% cancers in women. The study has involved 109,118 men and 254,870 women across 8 countries (France, Italy, Spain, UK, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Denmark) since the 1990s. Read the paper on the BMJ website.

Find out more about diet related factors and cancer on the safefood website

Consumers are advised to follow the current alcohol recommendation: ROI - http://www.drinkaware.ie; NI- http://www.drugsalcohol.info/