More than half of people unaware of links between alcohol and cancer, HSE warns
James Cox
New HSE research on alcohol shows that only four in 10 people are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.
Each year in Ireland there are approximately 1,000 alcohol-related cancer cases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 40 per cent of cancers are preventable through making behaviour changes. One of these is limiting alcohol intake as even small amounts can increase the risk of cancer.
The HSE is promoting information and resources to the public to improve knowledge of the health impacts of alcohol, including cancer risk.
A comprehensive guide to alcohol and cancer is available on hse.ie, and a social media campaign is running across HSE social media channels for the remainder of this year. Resources are also available for healthcare settings.
Dr Breeda Neville, specialist in public health medicine with the HSE National Cancer Control Programme, said: “Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen. This means that there is conclusive evidence that it causes cancer and places it in the same category as tobacco, asbestos and radiation.
"Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer: mouth, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), oesophagus, breast, bowel and liver cancer. Despite this significant risk, public awareness remains alarmingly low. Only 38 per cent of people living in Ireland are aware that drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer. That’s fewer than four out of every 10 people. In contrast, the research shows that more than seven in 10 people (76 per cent) are aware that smoking causes cancer.”
Research published in December 2024 by Healthy Ireland showed that 73 per cent of people in Ireland drink alcohol. In 2024, alcohol use was 9.4 litres of alcohol per capita over the age of 15 years.
Dr Neville added: "The public have a right to know that drinking alcohol, even at low levels, increases your risk of developing cancer, so that they can make informed decisions about their health.”
See hse.ie/alcohol for more information on how alcohol affects your health and wellbeing.
