People in England ‘lack awareness of link between alcohol and cancer’

Not enough people in England understand the link between drinking alcohol and an elevated cancer risk, according to a new study.

The Cancer Research UK/University of Sheffield study polled 2,100 people online, finding that only 13 percent mentioned cancer when asked to name the health conditions that can result from drinking too much.

When prompted, the majority understood that drinking alcohol can cause liver cancer, yet less than one-fifth knew the habit can also increase their breast cancer risk, despite this being a much more common problem.

This report has been published ahead of the end of a consultation on how well new drinking guidelines, proposed by the UK's chief medical officers in January 2016, are being communicated to the public.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer prevention, said: "If the new guidelines are to make a difference and change drinking habits in the UK, national health campaigns are needed to provide clear information about the health risks of drinking alcohol."