ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION:
NOT ABOUT JUDGEMENT
I
n this article I would like The World Health Organization (WHO) Interna-
to share information that tional Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classi-
comes from the best, most fied alcohol as a GROUP 1 Carcinogen, which is the
informed health sources highest risk classification in humans. In February
available today on the sub- 2007, the working group of IARC concluded, “The
ject of alcohol and its con- occurrence of certain malignant tumors are caus-
nection with cancer. My ally related to the consumption of alcohol, even
sources include articles in moderation”. The overall evaluation of IARC
and reports published states “Alcoholic beverages are carcinogenic to
by WHO (World Health humans (group 1-highest rating). Ethanol in alco-
Organization), IARC (In- holic beverages is carcinogenic to humans (group
ternational Agency for Re- 1-highest rating)”.
search on Cancer) WCRF In concurrence, the World Cancer Research
(World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has eight recommendations for can-
Fund), The American Asso- cer prevention, stating that any alcohol consumption
ciation for Cancer Research, can increase your risk of cancer.
and The Cancer Institute NSW Throughout the world, public awareness is swiftly
Monograph of Australia, who pub- increasing on the issue of alcohol as a cause of cancer.
lished the most comprehensive report In an attempt to find solutions to the global increase of lung
presenting results from a systemic review cancer, which is showing to be resistant to traditional medical
of the entire world’s literature, released in May 2008, treatments of chemotherapy and radiation and resulting in poor
titled “ALCOHOL AS A CAUSE OF CANCER”. This 200 page survival statistics, the American Association for Cancer Research
report reviews 603 worldwide medical references of the most did a large, case controlled study of lung cancer genes (January
current research on this subject. 1, 2009). Researchers from France, Russia and Canada were
Previous generations lived with a lack of information involved. The study concluded that alcohol negatively impacts
concerning the health consequences of smoking. The risks of the genes involved in lung cancer.
cigarette smoking have been openly acknowledged and wide- In other parts of the world, public health agencies are ac-
ly accepted by our society today but we can look back with tively trying to publish and disseminate information addressing
amazement at the absurdity of this information being rejected the connection between alcohol and cancer. The comprehen-
by our society in the past, as was the subject of second hand sive report, “Alcohol As A Cause Of Cancer”, Cancer Institute
smoke. We are now dealing with the same hesitancy and re- NSW Monograph of Australia, starts with the Chief Cancer Of-
luctance in acknowledging the many health hazards of alcohol ficer's report stating “Cancer is the major cause of premature
consumption -- especially the cancer connection. International death in the 45-65 year age group worldwide and it is prevent-
health sources have connected many cancers with alcohol con- able”. The statement goes on to say that it is now clear that
sumption. alcohol is a cancer causing agent. This comprehensive report
has compiled the most current cancer literature throughout the
world, concluding that the consumption of alcohol, even in
moderate amounts, is associated with an increased risk of sev-
eral cancers. Cancer Research UK has published many reports
in 2008 concerning this subject, starting with one in Feb 2008,
which reports on the BMA (British Medical Association) calling
upon the government to control the advertising that promotes
alcohol use and to increase taxes on alcoholic drinks. The BMA
also requested a reduction in the legal blood alcohol limit for
operating a motor vehicle and called for new warning labels
on alcoholic beverages referring to the dangers of use. There
is implication that governments of the past have worked too
closely with the alcohol industry and that it is a conflict of inter-
est which needs to stop.
26
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