The North East is the most aware UK region that alcohol increases the risk of cancer
- Only just over 1 in 10 (11%) adults in the North East feel comfortable talking about their relationship with alcohol.
- But people in the North East are more likely to recognise the health risks around alcohol and cancer than any other region of the UK, with 56% of adults aware.
- World Cancer Research Fund launches Cancer Prevention Action Week (23-29 June) to highlight links between alcohol and cancer.
Only just over 1 in 10 (11%) people in the North East feel comfortable talking about their relationship with alcohol despite being the most aware region of the UK when it comes to understanding that alcohol increases the risk of cancer
These findings show there is stigma around alcohol use and people may be embarrassed to seek support or openly discuss risks.
But the research from the World Cancer Research Fund for Cancer Prevention Action Week 23-29 June) shows 56% of North Easterners recognise the link between alcohol and cancer compared to 42% for the UK[i] when given a list of over 10 factors.
Though awareness is higher in the North East, more adults across the UK need to understand the link between alcohol and cancer.
World Cancer Research Fund is encouraging a national conversation around alcohol as a cause of seven different types of cancer as part of Cancer Prevention Action Week (CPAW) – 23-29 June 2025.
The findings come as Balance launches the next phase of the Alcohol is Toxic campaign to highlight how alcohol is a cause of seven types of cancer including breast and bowel cancers, with there being no safe level of drinking.
Susan Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Fresh and Balance, said: “It is positive to see that more people in the North East are aware that alcohol causes cancer and campaigns like Alcohol is Toxic have played an important part.
“However, it is still clear that not enough people are aware of the risk and we need more awareness for people to know the full facts around alcohol. People have a right to know this and it should be communicated more widely to them.
“We know from our own research that 1 in 3 people who drink in the North East are concerned of the health risks[ii]. But too many people don’t feel comfortable talking about alcohol. It’s important we lift this taboo and make it a subject people don’t feel they need to tiptoe around.
“The more people see their friends and family openly talking about it, the more comfortable they will feel in having honest conversations about alcohol and its harms.
About 4% of cancer cases in the UK are caused by alcohol, meaning that each year, around 17,000 people are diagnosed with cancer caused by alcohol. Adding to this immeasurable human cost is the economic burden placed on society. Alcohol-related cancers cost the NHS alone an estimated £100 million annually.
There is strong evidence that all types of alcoholic drink can increase the risk of at least 7 cancers: breast, bowel, head and neck, oesophageal, liver and stomach. Alcoholic drinks are also high in calories and often high in sugar, increasing your risk of gaining weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer.
World Cancer Research Fund says the findings underscore the necessity for clearer public health messaging to raise awareness of the real dangers of alcohol consumption, as well as other measures such as clear health warning labels. The charity, alongside other health organisations in the UK, is urging the Government to implement a National Alcohol Strategy for England.
Sheridan’s story
Mum Sheridan Dixon, 63, from South Tyneside, was diagnosed with breast cancer last August. She had surgery in September at the QE Hospital Gateshead and finished further radiotherapy treatment in January this year.
She said: “It was a big shock to be diagnosed with breast cancer. We know now that cancer will now affect 1 in 2 people in their lives, but you don’t expect it to be you. It was a wake-up call.
“After my diagnosis, I started reading about the connections between alcohol and breast cancer, which made me realise I needed to do everything possible including cutting down on alcohol to stay fit and healthy to prevent the cancer from coming back.
“I was shocked when I realised that any doctor would have considered me to have been a binge drinker. Your alcohol units can add up quickly without realising, especially when a large glass of wine can contain two or three units.
“For me, it was a wake-up call – it’s that stage in life when you start evaluating your entire lifestyle and self-care. I think more women need to know about this link because it is not something which is talked about.
“Before, I never really thought much about the cancer risk but it’s proven that cutting down on alcohol can reduce the risk of breast cancer.”
[i] Polling by World Cancer Research Fund for Cancer Prevention Action Week. The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 2,000 nationally representative UK adults (18+) of which 80 were from the North East. The data was collected between 21.03.2025 – 24.03.2025. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles – Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.
[ii] Online quantitative independent survey of 1392 North East adults by Bluegrass for Balance. Fieldwork March-April 2025.