Avoid alcohol
There is convincing evidence of an association between alcohol and cancers of the breast, larynx, liver, mouth, oesophagus, pharynx and bowel.
For recent information about the association between alcohol and cancer see the National Cancer Prevention Policy 2007-09 at The Cancer Council Australia website.
To reduce the risk of cancer, alcohol should be avoided. If you choose to drink, limit your intake.
- For men, the recommended limit is no more than two standard drinks a day.
- For women, it’s one standard drink per day.
A standard drink =
- 285 ml of beer (one glass of beer)
- 100 ml of wine (one glass of wine)
- 30 ml of spirits (one measure of spirits).
Tips
If you do choose to drink:
- Eat some food when you drink alcohol. Make a glass of wine or beer something to enhance a meal rather than a means of getting drunk.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones like mineral or soda water.
- Dilute alcoholic drinks, for example, try a shandy (beer and lemonade), white wine and mineral water, spirits and low-calorie soft drinks.
- Choose low-alcohol beer and wine drinks.
- Avoid binge drinking.
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