Press releases

Cancer charity urges switch to lower-alcohol wines

18 January 2010

People who drink a large glass of wine a day could reduce their risk of developing bowel cancer by seven per cent just by switching to a lower alcohol alternative, according to a cancer charity.

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) is urging drinkers to make the switch after calculating the impact of people who drink a large glass (250ml) of wine every day switching from a wine with an alcohol content of 14 per cent wine to a 10 per cent wine.

This reduction in risk could have a real impact on cancer in the UK. Roughly speaking, a seven per cent reduced risk of bowel cancer would mean that out of 100 people the number that would go on to develop bowel cancer would be reduced from six to five.

As well as reducing risk of bowel cancer, which affects about 37,000 people a year in the UK, there is also strong evidence that switching to a lower-alcohol wine would reduce risk of breast cancer, liver cancer, oesophageal cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx. The reduction in risk for each type of these cancers is thought to be similar to that for bowel cancer.

Overall, scientists estimate about 20,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed every year that are linked to alcohol. This is why WCRF recommends that if people drink at all, they limit consumption to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.

Dr Rachel Thompson, Science Programme Manager for WCRF, said: “From a cancer prevention point of view it is best not to drink at all. But we have to be realistic and the fact is that many people in the UK enjoy a drink and see it as part of their social life.

“If you drink quite a lot at the moment, the best advice is to reduce the number of drinks you have. But if people do not want to do this, switching to a lower alcohol alternative is still something positive they can do. Making this change might seem quite minor do, but it could have a real impact on cancer risk. If everyone who drinks 14 per cent wine at the moment switched to lower-alcohol wine tomorrow, for example, it is likely hundreds of cancer cases in the UK a year could be prevented.

“It is true that most wines in the supermarket these days tend to be 13 or 14 per cent, which means finding lower-alcohol alternatives can be difficult. But it is worth the effort because switching to a lower-alcohol alternative is the kind of lifestyle change that can make a real difference because it is easy to stick to in the long term.

“Of course, this does not just apply to wines. You can also reduce your cancer risk by switching from premium strength lager to weaker alternatives and this also applies to any alcoholic drink.”

“Also, it will hopefully become easier to find lower-alcohol drinks because the food and drink industry does now seem to taking the issue more seriously. But there is still much more it should be doing. We would like to see supermarkets and off-licenses make it easier for their customers to choose less unhealthy options.”

ENDS

For more information call 020 7343 4253.

Notes to editors:

• Tesco sells the McGuigan Chardonnay, which is 9.5% ABV: http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?N=8130+8113&No=10&id=261591510 and the McGuigan Shiraz which is also 9.5%: http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?N=8132+4294967084&id=261591268
• Tesco also sells the De Bortoli Cosa Dolce Syrah-Dolcetto, also 9.5% ABV: http://www.tesco.com/wine/product/details/default.aspx?N=8132+8113&id=262318598
• Marks and Spencer sells the Ernst Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2008, which is 10% ABV: http://www.marksandspencer.com/Loosen-Erdener-Treppchen-Riesling-Kabinett/dp/B000TQHTO0?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_11_1&pos=&mnSBrand=core
• Marks and Spencer also sells the Giardini Lower Alcohol Pinot Grigio 2008, which is 9.5% ABV: http://www.marksandspencer.com/Giardini-Lower-Alcohol-Pinot-Grigio/dp/B0030HE2X6ie=UTF8&ref=sr_11_1&pos=&mnSBrand=core
• Sainsbury’s sells the Dr Loosen Riesling, which is 8.5% ABV: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1262606934585
• Majestic Wines sells the Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett 2001, which is 7.5% ABV: http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/category-is-Wine/category-is-Germany/category-is-Mosel-Saar-Ruwer/product-is-12509
• For cancer prevention, it is best not to drink any alcohol at all; but modest amounts may have a protective effect for heart disease.

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About WCRF

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) raises awareness that cancer is largely preventable and helps people make choices to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

This includes research into how cancer risk is related to diet, physical activity, and weight management, and education programmes that highlight the fact that about a third of cancers could be prevented through changes to lifestyle. For more information on the charity’s work, visit www.wcrf-uk.org

The WCRF report, called Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, was launched in November 2007 and is the most comprehensive report ever published on the link between cancer and lifestyle. For more information, visit www.dietandcancerreport.org