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Drinking alcohol can offer a number of concerns and dangers to one's physical and mental health if it is done so in a way that is irresponsible or when it is done so in excessive amounts. Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol can lead to a variety of health problems, including damage to the liver, an increased risk of cardiovascular difficulties, and heart disease. Abusing alcohol is linked to an increased risk of getting into accidents, suffering injuries, and having impaired judgement, all of which can lead to risky behaviour that could endanger both the user and those around them. Abuse of alcohol for a prolonged period of time can result to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and even addiction to alcohol. Over the course of several decades, drinking alcohol has been the subject of methodical research and analysis, and the accompanying dangers and adverse effects have been meticulously documented. There is no such thing as an acceptable level of alcohol use that will not have a negative impact on one's health, according to a recent article that was published in The Lancet Public Health by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It is the alcohol that causes harm, not the beverage
Decades ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer placed alcohol in the highest risk group alongside asbestos, radiation, and tobacco because of its poisonous, psychotropic, and dependence-producing properties. At least seven different kinds of cancer can be traced back to alcohol consumption, including some of the most frequent kinds of cancer including colon and breast cancer in women. Consuming any alcoholic beverage, regardless of cost or quality, increases the risk of developing cancer due to the carcinogenic effects of ethanol (alcohol) as it is broken down in the body.
The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of acquiring cancer. Yet the most recent numbers show that "light" and "moderate" alcohol usage (defined as less than 1.5 litres of wine, 3.5 litres of beer, or 450 millilitres of spirits per week) is responsible for half of all alcohol-attributable malignancies in the WHO European Region. The greatest burden of alcohol-related breast cancers in women is seen in EU countries due to this specific pattern of drinking. Cancer is the largest cause of mortality in the European Union (EU), and its incidence is on the rise. Moreover, cancer accounts for the vast majority of alcohol-related fatalities.
Risks start from the first drop
In order to determine a safe level of alcohol consumption, it is necessary to rely on scientifically valid evidence that indicates no risk of illness or injury at or below a particular limit of alcohol intake. According to the latest statement from the World Health Organisation, the current evidence does not suggest a specific threshold at which the harmful effects of alcohol on the development of cancer become apparent in the human body.
Additionally, current research does not provide evidence to support the notion that the advantages of consuming light to moderate amounts of alcohol for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with such levels of alcohol intake for individual consumers.
It is important to note that there is no established safe level of alcohol consumption. The consumption of any amount of alcoholic beverage poses a risk to the drinker's health, regardless of the quantity consumed. According to Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges, who is the acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe, it is a fact that the more alcohol you consume, the more detrimental it is to your health. Therefore, it can be inferred that the less alcohol you consume, the safer it is for your overall well-being.
The topic of whether alcohol has any positive effects on health has been a subject of debate in the scientific community for a considerable amount of time.
The European Region of the World Health Organisation has the highest level of alcohol consumption and the largest percentage of individuals who consume alcohol globally. In this region, there is a significant population of over 200 million individuals who are susceptible to developing cancer caused by alcohol consumption.
Individuals who are considered disadvantaged and vulnerable tend to experience higher rates of alcohol-related hospitalisation and death. This is due to the fact that the negative effects of a specific amount and frequency of alcohol consumption are more severe for those who are economically disadvantaged and their loved ones, in comparison to individuals who are more financially stable within a given community.
When discussing the purported safer levels of alcohol consumption or its potential protective benefits, it is important to consider the broader context of alcohol-related harm both within the region and globally. It is a widely accepted fact in the medical community that alcohol consumption can lead to the development of cancer. However, this information has not yet been effectively disseminated to the general public in many countries. It is imperative to include cancer-related health information on alcoholic beverage labels, similar to tobacco products. Additionally, it is crucial to have well-informed and trained health professionals who can confidently educate their patients about the risks of alcohol consumption and cancer. Lastly, it is essential to raise awareness about this topic in various countries and communities.
