Two alcoholic drinks a day raises cancer risks, says study

Irish people who drink an average of two alcoholic drinks a day are placing themselves at an increased risk of developing bowel and oesophageal cancer.

A report by the medical group United European Gastroenterology (UEG) found that, although Irish people drink a “moderate” 1.9 alcoholic drinks a day — the average amount for the EU28 as a whole — this still greatly increases the risk of contracting a range of different cancers.

For example, even light drinking of up to one alcoholic drink a day carries an increased risk of oesophageal cancer. Consuming between one and four alcoholic drinks a day increases the risk of bowel cancer by as much as 21% while taking four or more alcoholic drinks a day is linked to an increased risk of liver, gastric, and pancreatic cancer.