Irish Cancer Society welcomes publication of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill

The Irish Cancer Society has today welcomed the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which legislates for alcohol as a public health issue for the first time.  900 people are diagnosed with alcohol-related cancers and around 500 die from these cancers in Ireland every year.  Approximately 5% of newly diagnosed cancers are attributable to alcohol. Alcohol is classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and can cause cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, pancreas, bowel and breast. Commenting on the news, Irish Cancer Society Head of Advocacy and Communications, Kathleen O’Meara said: “We warmly welcome publication of the Bill. This is a hugely important piece of legislation which will ensure that the critical public health issue of alcohol consumption and misuse is addressed. As a member of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), the Irish Cancer Society has fought long and hard to see this legislation progressed and we hope it will go before the Oireachtas very shortly.” Ms. O’Meara added: “There is a strong link between alcohol and cancer. We are all working towards a future without cancer but we can’t reach this goal without reducing the level of alcohol consumption in this country and this Bill will go some way to helping achieve this.” Drinking alcohol is one of the most significant causes of cancer in Ireland, being a risk factor in eight types of cancer. For example, drinking one standard alcoholic drink a day is associated with a 9% increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, while drinking 3-6 standard drinks a day increases the risk by 41%.  “We know that Ireland has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and the only way to reduce your risk of certain fatal diseases is to drink less alcohol.  At least half of alcohol related cancers could be avoided by drinking within the recommended Department of Health consumption guidelines.” Last year, the average Irish person aged 15+ drank 11 litres of pure alcohol, compared to the OECD average of 9 litres, while the most recent figures suggest that 1,500 hospital beds a night are taken up due to alcohol consumption, and treatment of alcohol related diseases and injuries cost the healthcare system an estimated €1.2billion. Ms. O’Meara said: “The Bill contains targeted measures, including health labelling, minimum unit pricing and marketing restrictions, that will reduce the consumption of those at greatest risk of harm, protect children from slick advertising and save lives.”