Low-alcohol wine "cuts cancer risk"

Monday 18th January 2010

Cancer researchers have found that wine drinkers can cut their risk of developing the disease through a simple change in their drinking habits by switching to a low-alcohol alternative.

Researchers from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said that the risk of developing bowel cancer, which currently affects some 37,000 people a year in the UK, could be slashed by 7% simply by drinking a 250 ml glass of wine with a 10% proof rate rather than 14%.

The charity conceded that a daily glass of wine was an unavoidable lifestyle choice for many people in the UK. However, the switch to a low-alcohol alternative could cause a significant dent in the 20,000 cases of cancer diagnosed every year attributed to alcohol.

The charity also said that the risk of developing other forms of the disease, such as breast cancer, liver cancer, oesophageal cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx could all be reduced by adopting the measure.

Dr Rachel Thompson, WCRF's science programme manager, said: "If you drink quite a lot at the moment, the best advice is to reduce the number of drinks you have.

"But if people do not want to do this, switching to a lower alcohol alternative is still something positive they can do."

Copyright © Press Association 2010

WCRF

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