Increased cancer risk with alcohol consumption highlighted
Research published in the BMJ has highlighted that around 10% of all cancers in men and 3% in women are attributable to alcohol consumption. Although the media reported increased risk of cancer even when drinking within the recommended guidelines, the BMJ highlighted risk to be proportionately greater on exceeding the guidelines. See an NHS Choices summary on the topic and reports from the Guardian, BBC, Telegraph and Cancer Research UK.
Calls to protect children from alcohol advertising
A call for a tougher stance on alcohol advertising in the UK has been given the backing of health experts. Dr Sarah Wollaston, a Conservative MP who has also called for minimum pricing, put forward a private members bill to limit the exposure of children to alcohol marketing. It calls for statutory regulation that outlaws marketing to children and ensures that information in ads is factual and verifiable, similar to laws passed in France. The move was backed by health experts writing in the BMJ, but drinks producer Diageo spoke out and claimed the evidence was unsubstantiated.
Obesity and alcohol misuse costs NHS £140m in Wales reports the BBC. The research put the cost of obesity to the NHS in Wales at £73m and excessive alcohol consumption at between £69.9m and £73.3m. See here for Independant report. > > > Read More
