Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – alcohol is putting thousands at more risk in the North East
Alcohol is one of the causes of bowel cancer but simple, achievable steps can help lower cancer risk
For Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Balance is highlighting how cutting down on alcohol is one important way to reduce bowel cancer risk for thousands of people in the North East.
Many people – especially in middle age – have grown up with alcohol as a normal part of life. However, medical evidence is now clear that cancer risks from any amount of regular drinking are higher than previously realised (1).
But as awareness grows, more people are beginning to rethink their relationship with alcohol and make small, positive changes for their health.
Alcohol is a Group One carcinogen which causes at least seven types of cancer including breast, bowel, mouth and throat cancer. Our bodies process alcohol into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde. With bowel cancer, alcohol can damage cells lining the inside of the digestive system, making cancer more likely to develop over time (2).
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 12% of all new cancer cases (3). There are around 46,600 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year – around 130 every day (3)
Latest survey statistics show that 25% of people in the North East are higher‑risk drinkers, with people aged 35–55 drinking the most (4). This age group can also benefit most from cutting back, as reducing alcohol at any stage can help lower future health risks.
Susan Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Fresh and Balance, said: “Alcohol is often sold and promoted by the industry as just another normal part of everyday life, and it can be hard to escape this pressure, but the way our bodies process alcohol tells a very different story. Any level of regular drinking can increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
“Here in the North East, we know that people in mid‑life are more likely to be drinking higher amounts more regularly, often without seeing themselves as at risk.
“The positive message is that alcohol is one risk factor we can change.”
Sixty year-old, Darren Giles from Sunderland is living with cancer. He stopped drinking when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2023 to give himself the best chance of recovery. Unfortunately, the cancer has now spread to his liver, pelvis and abdomen. Now, living with cancer, the decision to avoid alcohol feels even clearer. He worries that many people his age still don’t realise the link between alcohol and cancer – particularly bowel and liver cancer.
He says: “I can’t say whether alcohol played a part in my own cancer or not. But what I do know now is that alcohol is linked to cancers like bowel cancer, and many people are still unaware of that.”
He added: “People have a right to know the risks, through clear and honest information, so they can make informed decisions about their health. If that knowledge helps even one person take screening seriously or think differently about their drinking, then it really matters.”
Dr James Crosbie, a GP and consultant gastroenterologist is also the Clinical Lead for Alcohol for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board says: “Many people are surprised to learn that alcohol is one of the causes of bowel cancer because drinking has been is so normalised over decades. However, the medical evidence is clear that there is no “safe” level of alcohol intake. There is a dose response relationship for alcohol harm to the body; the more alcohol you drink, the more your risk of cancer and other health problems increases.
“I work in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme so diagnose a lot of people with bowel cancer, as well as removing pre-cancerous polyps from the bowel. By understanding all of the health risks associated with alcohol people can make an informed decision about how much they drink.
“From a health perspective, reducing alcohol intake is one practical step people can take to lower their risk. Even small changes – such as cutting back or having alcohol‑free days each week – can make a real difference over time.”
Chief Medical Officer alcohol guidelines state the risks start from any level of regular drinking and increase with the amount being drunk. If you do drink alcohol, cutting down the amount you drink will reduce your risk. It’s recommended that people drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week and spread it out over the week, have at least two days without alcohol each week (5).
References
1: Chief Medical Officers low risk alcohol guidelines https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf
2: Bowel Cancer UK – https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/risk-factors/reducing-your-risk/alcohol-and-smoking/
3: Cancer Research UK – statistics on https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bowel-cancer
4: Balance alcohol consumption and public opinion survey
5: UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk drinking guidelines https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf