According to Dr. Peter N. Landless, a nuclear cardiologist, health educator and author:

'Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally.  An interesting example of the relationship between drinking alcohol and cancer comes from the European Union, where cancer is the second-most-common cause of death and 2.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year.  It's estimated that 10 percent of cancers in men and 3 percent in women can be directly attributed to alcohol use.  It's further estimated that 30 percent of cancers in this part of the world could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices. The 2010 Eurobarometer Report, however, found that 1 in 5 European citizens do not believe that there's a connection between alcohol and cancer; 1 in 10 is totally ignorant of the fact that alcohol consumption can cause cancer.  Sadly, being ignorant does not spare us the consequences.' (see www.eurocare.org/library/latest_news/alcohol_and_cancer_the_forgotten_link)

Dr. Landless gives us 6 reasons not to drink:

• Alcohol is a toxin and damages the human body.
• Alcohol is potentially addictive.
• Alcohol is a proven carcinogen--it causes various cancers.
• There is no safe level of alcohol intake to avoid its many serious side effects and consequences.
• Any purported benefit to heart health (coronary artery disease, specifically) is neutralized and eclipsed by the dangerous and proven harms associated with alcohol use.
• The global consequences of alcohol use are growing, and caring and concerned people have the opportunity and responsibility to educate, foster, promote resilience, and play a leading role in advocacy against alcohol use.

For more information see:

http://www.emeraldhef-ie.org/downloads/Alcohol_pamphlet.pdf

 http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/healthpromotion/