Wednesday 7 December 2011

Even Cancer Research UK admit alcohol consumption is falling?

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Among all the media excitement about how fags, booze and burgers are giving us cancer it appears that the rather nuanced nature (other than on smoking - actually smoking not passive smoking) of the Cancer Research UK work is somewhat overlooked. However, I was struck by this bit (see I've read it - rather than just the CRUK press release):

In fact, data from the national General Lifestyle Survey (Robinson and Bugler, 2010) show that the average number of units of alcohol consumed in a week rose in the 1990s to a peak in the period 2000–2002 of around 17 units for men, and 7.5 units for women, but has fallen since that time in both sexes. The proportion of men and women drinking more than the recommended maximum (21 units a week in men and 14 units in women) has also been falling. The fall in consumption occurred among men and women in all age groups, but was most evident among those aged 16–24. It is quite possible, therefore, that the burden of alcohol-related cancers is around its maximum at present, and will fall in future.

Got that folks.

And get this - two-thirds of cancers are NOT the result of smoking, drinking or bad diet. That's a thought, eh?

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