The risks increase largely in a dose-dependent manner with the volume of alcohol consumed and with frequency of drinking, and exponentially with the amount consumed on a single occasion. Both the volume of lifetime alcohol use and a combination of context, frequency of alcohol consumption and amount consumed per occasion increase the risk of the wide range of health and social harms. Alcohol consumption contributes to 2.6 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people.
- Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries.
- If you already drink at low levels and continue to drink, risks for these issues appear to be low.
- The European framework for action on alcohol, 2022–2025, adopted by all 53 Member States, uses the latest evidence to address alcohol-related harms through comprehensive, evidence-based policies and collaborative efforts.
- Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
- This regional workshop was planned to address the challenges of illicit tobacco trade and unrecorded alcohol consumption in the countries of the Region….
Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits
WHO highlights glaring gaps in regulation of alcohol marketing across borders Strengthening alcohol control and road safety policies Despite this, the question of beneficial effects of alcohol has been a contentious issue in research for years.
Restricting alcohol availability: How can common barriers be overcome? Webinar by WHO – 3 October 2022
More on alcohol
Risks start from the first drop
- For women, more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks a week is heavy drinking.
- “So, when we talk about possible so-called safer levels of alcohol consumption or about its protective effects, we are ignoring the bigger picture of alcohol harm in our Region and the world.
- Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help.
- In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
- Health agencies outside the U.S. may define one drink differently.
Surrogate and illegally produced alcohols can bring an extra health risk from toxic contaminants. In this context, it is easy to overlook or discount the health and social damage caused or contributed to by drinking. When it comes to alcohol, if you don’t drink, don’t start for health reasons. In the United States, people younger than age 21 are not legally able to drink alcohol.
Impact on your safety
This regional workshop was planned to address the challenges of illicit tobacco trade and unrecorded alcohol consumption in the countries of the Region…. But heavy drinking carries a much higher risk even for those without other health concerns. Alcohol Use Disorder But good evidence shows that drinking high amounts of alcohol are clearly linked to health problems.
During pregnancy, drinking may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems. Heavy drinking also has been linked to intentional injuries, such as suicide, as well as accidental injury and death. That usually means four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men. As consumption goes up, the risk goes up for these cancers. If you already drink at low levels and continue to drink, risks for these issues appear to be low. It means on days when a person does drink, women do not have more than one drink and men do not have more than two drinks.
South-East Asia Regional workshop to address the challenges of illicit tobacco trade and unrecorded alcohol,…
Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.
Medical Professionals
In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior.
Effects of alcohol on your health
Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. Alcohol use disorder includes a level of drinking that’s sometimes called alcoholism. WHO has identified that the most cost-effective actions to reduce the harmful use of alcohol include increasing taxes on alcoholic beverages, enforcing restrictions on exposure to alcohol advertising, and restrictions on the physical availability of retailed alcohol.
Moderate alcohol use may not mean the same thing in research studies or among health agencies. Here’s a closer look at alcohol and health. While the risk is low for moderate intake, the risk goes up as the amount you drink goes up.
For example, any amount of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. It also causes harm to the well-being and health of people around the drinker. The European framework for action on alcohol, 2022–2025, adopted by all 53 Member States, uses the latest evidence to address alcohol-related harms through comprehensive, evidence-based policies and collaborative efforts.
Heavy drinking also may result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Binge drinking is behavior that raises blood alcohol levels to 0.08%. The definition of heavy drinking is based on a person’s sex. In the past, moderate drinking was thought to be linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease and possibly diabetes. And drinking raises the risk of problems in the digestive system. For example, it may be used to define the risk of illness or injury based on the number of drinks a person has in a week.
Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries. Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization, as harms from a given amount and pattern of drinking are higher for poorer drinkers and their families than for richer drinkers in any given society. Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest alcohol consumption level and the highest proportion of drinkers in the population.
Be sure to ask your healthcare professional about what’s right for your health and safety. When taking care of children, avoid alcohol. Health agencies outside the U.S. may define one drink differently. Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for you. People who choose not to drink make that choice for the same reasons.
Disadvantaged and especially vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization. This is particularly true for those in social environments with high visibility and societal influence, nationally and internationally, where alcohol frequently accompanies socializing. In many of today’s societies, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many in the population.