Types of cancer strongly linked to alcohol consumption; 'safe' amount myth debunked

Alcohol consumption in Romania has risen significantly, increasing by approximately 30% in the past 10 years, a trend contrary to the general decline observed in most European countries. This rise is particularly concerning given the strong links between alcohol and various types of cancer.

Globally, the European region of the World Health Organization reports the highest rate of alcohol consumers, with alcohol causing about one million deaths annually. It is responsible for one in four deaths among individuals aged 20-24. New research now connects alcohol consumption to eight specific types of cancer: breast, colon, larynx, liver, esophagus, pharynx, oral cavity, and rectum. These links translate to tens of thousands of new cases in Europe each year.

Even moderate alcohol intake is not without risk. Light to moderate drinking, defined as less than 20 grams of pure alcohol per day, is associated with 13.3% of cancer cases in Europe, equating to roughly 23,000 new cases annually. In Romania, the situation is exacerbated by a high rate of excessive drinking; in 2019, over a third of Romanian adults reported consuming alcohol excessively at least once a month, the second-highest rate in the EU. Men are disproportionately affected, with 53.1% reporting excessive consumption compared to 18% of women. Overall, 18 out of every 100,000 inhabitants in Romania have new cancer cases linked to alcohol, compared to the EU average of 12.3.