Alcohol

Last updated on: 02/02/2011

In France, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is the second most common cause of avoidable mortality from cancer, after tobacco. In 2000, there were almost 10,000 cancer-related deaths attributable to alcohol. Alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer: mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colon and rectum, breast, etc. Although the level in France has been falling since the 1960s, it remains one of the highest in Europe.

There is a direct correlation between the risk of cancer and the amount of alcohol provided by the beverages, with no threshold effect. All alcoholic beverages produce the same effect.

Three of the actions included in measure 11 of the 2009-2013 Cancer Plan relate specifically to alcohol:

• 11.5: Specify the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks on the container in order to make it easier to estimate intake;
• 11.6: Provide more help for people experiencing problems with their level of alcohol consumption;
• 11.7: Implement measures relating to the supply of alcohol adopted in the « Hôpital, patients, santé, territoires » law designed to restrict the supply of alcohol to minors in filling stations, provisions on "happy hours" and display advertising on the Internet.

INCa has published several documents that assess current knowledge about this subject and propose recommendations for the primary prevention of alcohol consumption-related cancer.

 Fiche repère « alcool et cancers » (janvier 2011) (1.86 MB)