colorectal cancer risk and alcohol

Last reviewed 12/2022

Alcohol and colorectal cancer

• Most of the evidence from the new meta-analyses is consistent with the existing view that alcohol consumption is causally associated with colorectal cancer. However, the majority of the new cohort and case-control studies published since 2009 showed no statistically significant positive association
• positive associations were observed at medium and high (>12.5 or >30 g ethanol/day) but not low alcohol intakes

Notes:

• Typical alcohol content in grammes and UK units of different alcoholic beverages

  	Typical Alcohol by Volume (ABV) (%)	Typical volume of a drink (mL)	Ethanol content (g)	UK units of alcohol
  Beer	4.5	568 (pint)	20	2.5
  Wine	13	175 (glass)	18	2.3
  Spirits	40	20 (single)	8	1

  UK 1 unit of alcohol = 8g ethanol

  In describing levels of alcohol consumption, the terms 'low', 'medium' and 'high' were used to represent intakes averaging approximately <12.5 g ethanol/day (< approximately 1.5 units/day), 12.5-50 g ethanol/day (approximately 1.5-6 units/day), and >50 g ethanol/day (> approximately 6 UK units/day), respectively.

Reference:

• Public Health England (2015). Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) Statement 2015/S2 - Statement on consumption of alcoholic beverages and risk of cancer.