People who stop drinking alcohol lower their colorectal and breast cancer risk

• Accumulating evidence shows that people who cut out alcohol can reduce their risk of developing some forms of cancer.
• Decreasing alcohol intake decreases the production of acetaldehyde in the body, which in turn, reduces the risk of certain cancers.
• Researchers and experts agree that continuing abstaining from alcohol is the only way to see long-term, positive health effects. (for more Can drinking less alcohol reduce your risk of cancer? (medicalnewstoday.com)

Also see 

• For Your Health, No Amount of Alcohol Is Safe
• Drinking just ONE glass of wine or pint of beer each night 'may raise your cancer risk by 5%' as scientists warn the safest amount of alcohol is NONE
• Alcohol consumption and liver, pancreatic, head and neck cancers in Australia: 2017

The role of impulsivity in the relationship between affect and alcohol consumption in young adults

It’s been known, at least anecdotally, for a long time that people hitting the bottle in depression is often, the reality is people are more likely to do so when they are excited or happy. Of course, that may tie into and be tied to, the ‘celebratory’ entrenched stereotypes we have seen around alcohol consumption – champagne, for example, being the cliché image.  

Abstract

Background: Theoretical models of alcohol use posit that individuals consume alcohol to ameliorate negative affect or to heighten positive affect. It is important, however, to consider the influence of factors that may determine an individual's tendency to consume excessive amounts of alcohol under positive and negative circumstances. Thus, the current study examined a large sample of young adults to clarify whether positive and negative affect predict total alcohol consumption on drinking days and whether facets of impulsivity moderate these relationships.

Results: Participants were significantly more likely to drink in greater quantities on occasions preceded by higher positive affect but not negative affect. While fun-seeking positively predicted total drinks consumed, there were no significant interaction effects between the BIS/BAS subscales and affect on total drinks consumed.

Conclusions: These findings challenge existing affect regulation models and have implications for ecological momentary interventions aimed at addressing hazardous drinking behaviours.

For complete research

FACT SHEETS - View PDFs Below

• Fact Sheet - PIR services from 7 November 2023 - 6 November 2023
• Fact Sheet_Public intoxication response -- About the centralised service
• Fact Sheet_Public intoxication response -- About the health-led response -- Oct 2023
• FAQs_Public intoxication response -- About the health-led response -- Nov 2023

The risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol have been systematically evaluated over the years and are well documented. The World Health Organization has now published a statement in The Lancet Public Health: when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.

It is the alcohol that causes harm, not the beverage

Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.

(Source: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (who.int)

Victoria, thus far, is the only State that has moved to create licenses for the ‘online sales and delivery’ sector, which is essentially unregulated nationally. Liquor Control Victoria have released Responsible Alcohol Advertising and Promotion Guidelines for the alcohol industry in Victoria. This is a start, but much more needs to be done in all states. The need for a federal set of robust and enforced regulations by government is vital. 

Unacceptable Practices.

Principle: “The advertising or promotion of alcohol must not encourage the rapid or excessive consumption of alcohol, nor should it use emotive descriptions, language or imagery likely to encourage irresponsible drinking.” 

Rationale: “This principle aims to prevent promotions that encourage people to drink in excess or faster than they normally would. It covers promotions such as games, competitions or “dares” that encourage excessive alcohol consumption or offer alcohol as a prize. Emotive language or descriptions such as “drink till you drop.” may encourage rapid or excessive alcohol consumption. In the context of packaged alcohol, advertisements or promotions that place emphasis on the alcohol content of a product also have the potential to lead to excessive or irresponsible alcohol consumption.” (page 5) 

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