title: Knowledge and beliefs about alcohol consumption, longer-term health risks, and the link with cancer in a sample of Australian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores knowledge and beliefs about longer-term health risks related to alcohol consumption among Australian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the 2009 Cancer Institute NSW Lifestyle and Cancer Survey, a telephone survey of adults in NSW. Participants (n=1255) were asked about their alcohol consumption, knowledge of the Australian guidelines (revised in 2009), and personal perceptions and beliefs about longer-term health risks from alcohol consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight percent of the sample drank alcohol either occasionally or weekly, with 37% of drinkers drinking above the current Australian guidelines (two standard drinks on any day). Two-thirds (67%) correctly nominated the maximum number of standard drinks per day that met the current Australian guidelines, and a similar proportion (64%) agreed that regular moderate alcohol consumption can have serious health consequences in the longer term. Knowledge of the guidelines and longer-term health consequences was lower for drinkers, especially those drinking above the guidelines. Less than half (48%) of the participants were aware that drinking alcohol could cause cancer and 51% were aware that limiting alcohol intake helps prevent cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current Australian guidelines, the longer-term health risks and the link with cancer are not well understood, especially by those who drink frequently and above the guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunlop
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kite
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaskin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult