title: European Code against Cancer 4th Edition: Alcohol drinking and cancer.
abstract: Alcohol consumption is the third leading risk factor for disease and mortality in Europe. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs provide strengthened evidence that the consumption of alcoholic beverages is causally associated with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast, even for low and moderate alcohol intakes. The risk of cancer increases in a dose-dependent manner, and the higher the amount of alcohol consumed, the higher the risk of developing cancer. Several biological mechanisms explain the carcinogenicity of alcohol; among them, ethanol and its genotoxic metabolite acetaldehyde play a major role. Taking all this evidence into account, a recommendation of the 4th edition of the European Code against Cancer (ECAC) is: "If you drink alcohol of any type, limit your intake. Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention."
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scoccianti
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Analyst OECD, 2 rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention & Screening, Level 7, Mailbox 7, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Annie S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 1 via Venezian, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrino
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boutron-Ruault
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espina
authors.affiliation: Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Key
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leitzmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, London W2 1 PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norat
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Unit, The Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.affiliation: World Cancer Research Fund International, Second Floor, 22 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France. Electronic address: secretariat@cancer-code-europe.iarc.fr.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romieu
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Acetaldehyde; Alcohol drinking; Cancer; Disease; Ethanol; Europe; Primary prevention