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Alcohol and cancer

Alcohol is a known cause of seven cancers. Avoiding or reducing alcohol is the best way to prevent these cancers, experienced more by Māori.

Alcohol (waipiro) is a Class 1 carcinogen and a known cause of many cancers.

Drinking any amount of alcohol regularly, even low levels, can increase the risk of some cancers. An example of this is the more than one-third of alcohol-attributable breast cancer deaths that occur among New Zealand women with an average daily consumption of less than two daily standard drinks.

The level of cancer risk increases with the level of alcohol consumption.

To find out more download our full position statement: