People will be
warned that they are at risk from serious illness including heart
disease, stroke and cancer if they drink just a little bit more
than they should, the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said today.
A brand new nationwide Change4Life campaign launched tonight
(Sunday), will expose that drinking slightly over the lower-risk
alcohol guidelines can seriously impact long term health.
Tonight while people recover from their weekend excesses or wind
down with a glass of wine at home, the new TV adverts will go out
for the first time.
The advert highlights that regularly drinking around two large
glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triple the risk
of developing mouth cancer and double the risk of developing high
blood pressure.
A shocking new survey has revealed that most people are unaware
of the serious illnesses caused by drinking more than the
guidelines. For example:
• 85 per cent of people did not realise it increases the risk of
developing breast cancer;
• 66 per cent did not realise it
increases the risk of bowel cancer;
• 63 per cent did not
realise it increases the chance of pancreatitis;
• 59 per cent
did not realise it increases the risk of mouth, throat and neck
cancer;
• 30 per cent did not realise it increases the risk
of high blood pressure; and
• 37 per cent did not realise it
reduces fertility.
A new online calculator will be available on the Change4Life
website to help people check how much they are drinking and work
out whether they need to cut down. Two million leaflets will also
be available for Change4Life supporters and health professionals
around the country.
The campaign also offers handy hints and tips on how people can
cut down – such as having booze free days, not drinking at home
before people go out, swapping to low-alcohol or alcohol free
drinks and simply using smaller glasses.
Secretary of State, Andrew Lansley said:
“It’s crucial we support people to know about how drinking
too much poses risks to their health and how they can take control
of their drinking.”
“It can be easy to slip into the habit of having a few extra
drinks each day, especially when drinking at home. But there can
be serious health risks. Don't let drinking sneak up on you.”
“That is why I am launching this campaign, to alert people
that it is not just binge drinkers that damage their health. There
are simple ways we can all cut down how much alcohol we drink if
we need to.”
“Change4Life is a fantastic, well known campaign, that has
already helped a million families around the country. I want to
expand it beyond eating well and moving more, so people look after
themselves and really do live longer.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davis
said:
"Drinking too much is a major public health issue. This
campaign highlights how easy it can be to use a glass of wine or
beer to unwind at the end of a busy day but these drinks stack up
and can increase your risk of high blood pressure, cancer or liver
disease.”
“The campaign with its new online calculator is available on the
Change4Life website to help and encourage people to check how much
they are drinking and if they find they are drinking over the
guidelines, can help them cut down."
Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the
British Heart Foundation, said:
“An estimated 10 million Brits drink more than the recommended
limits for alcohol, which puts one in five of us at increased risk
of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and weight gain.”
“There’s absolutely no reason why we can’t all enjoy our
favourite tipple in moderation, but don’t underestimate the health
risks when one glass becomes two or three on a regular basis.”
“Understanding your alcohol limits, using the new Change4Life
calculator, will help you work towards a healthy lifestyle and a
healthy future.”
Sarah Lyness, Executive Director of policy and
information at Cancer Research UK, said:
“Alcohol can increase the risk of seven types of cancer,
including two of the commonest kinds - breast and bowel cancers.
And a recent study showed that nearly 12,500 cancers in the UK
each year are caused by alcohol.”
“The risk of cancer starts to go up even at quite low levels
of drinking, but the more people cut back on alcohol, the more
they can reduce the risk. Small changes can really make a
difference – so try swapping a glass of wine or beer for a soft
drink or having a few alcohol-free days a week.”
Notes to editors
1. The lower-risk alcohol guidelines are that men should not
regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women
should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
2. Drinking heavily regularly on just one or two days a week can
also be harmful to your health in the long term.
3. The campaign will run for six weeks from Sunday 5th February.
TV adverts will be shown in between popular evening programmes on
Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
4. The survey was conducted by YouGov Plc. Total sample size was
2,123 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9-12 December 2011.
The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted
and are representative of all UK adults aged 18 and above.
5. For further information, supportive quotes or to view a copy
of the TV advert please contact the Department of Health press
office on 020 7210 5221.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk