Published on: 23 June 2025
The North East is the most UK region that alcohol increases risk of cancerThe North East is the most UK region that alcohol increases 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.
This week the World Cancer Research Fund has launched Cancer Prevention Action Week, which runs until Sunday, June 29, 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 shows 56% of North Easterners recognise the link between alcohol and cancer compared to 42% for the UK 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.
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 risksii.
"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 seven 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 Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to implement a National Alcohol Strategy for England.
The need for bold government action on alcohol is further underscored by a 42% increase in alcohol-specific deaths in England between 2019 and 2013.
It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on alcohol harms and now it is time for government to step up and protect the public.
World Cancer Research Fund Executive Director of Research and Policy, Dr Panagiota Mitrou, said:
"A long-overdue National Alcohol Strategy in England would help the UK Government tackle alcohol harm head-on – reducing consumption, lowering cancer risk, and protecting lives.
"England needs a bold National Alcohol Strategy that includes prevention, harm reduction, treatment, rehabilitation, and public education—especially on alcohol’s link to cancers like breast, bowel, and oesophageal.
"That’s why we’re urging the UK Government to act now by introducing a National Alcohol Strategy with mandatory health warning labels highlighting cancer risk, minimum unit pricing, and marketing restrictions."
This year, World Cancer Research Fund and supporting organisations are aiming to raise awareness further of the cancer risks associated with alcohol by sparking a national debate with friends, family, and within government.
Sign World Cancer Research Fund’s petition and demand the Government takes action on alcohol and cancer.
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."
