IRISH people must completely rethink their drinking and indulge only on special occasions, the head of a cancer charity has warned.
John McCormack, the CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said the current practice for the majority of Irish people of drinking every week must stop.
“I think people are only coming to terms with the fact that 900 people in Ireland die every year from an alcohol-related cancer,” he said.
“That’s almost 20 people every week dying from a cancer that’s linked to alcohol, so it is really important that alcohol is included in the list of ways that we can reduce the risks of cancer.”
Mr McCormack said that, in general, the Irish public had embraced measures to help reduce cancer risks including a decrease in smoking and more exercise. He added that people must now focus on minimising alcohol intake.
“What’s really important is that 40pc to 50pc of cancers can be prevented, so we really have to get Ireland into a stage in life where people are taking on board life-changing cancer prevention ways of living,” he said.
“We’re making a lot of progress – our smoking rate has fallen to below 20pc, our smoking rate in children is really low, there are more people out taking physical activity, covering up in the sun and being a healthy weight, but it’s really important to minimise alcohol.”
Source: Caroline Crawford, Irish Independent, 09/12/15
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