Drinking two large glasses of wine a day triples the risk of developing mouth cancer, a government campaign will warn.
Two glasses of wine a night triples the chance of mouth cancer, Government will warn
Television adverts which start running on Sunday evening will say that drinking "just a little bit more" than recommended daily limits for alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems.
Government advice states that men should drink no more than four units a day and women should have no more than three.
A large 250ml glass of wine is classed as three units, as is a pint of continental lager.
The adverts will say that those who regularly drink six units in a day double their chance of high blood pressure and triple the risk of developing mouth cancer.
Mouth cancer is diagnosed in more than 5,000 people a year, leading to about 1,800 deaths, while about 12 million people have high blood pressure, increasing their chances of strokes and heart attacks.
The adverts, run under the Change4Life banner, will encourage drinkers to cut down by having alcohol-free days, not drinking at home before going out, swapping to low or alcohol-free drinks and using smaller glasses.
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is uncommon, but cases have risen by 20 per cent in the past three decades. It affects twice as many men as women.
High blood pressure is far more common, with about 12 million sufferers in the UK, about 7 million of whom are diagnosed.
Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, said the campaign was being launched "to alert people that it is not just binge drinkers who damage their health".
David Cameron has recently indicated that he might back a minimum alcohol price in England to deter excess consumption, overruling the advice of Mr Lansley, who believes the move would have little impact.
In 2009, Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, the then chief medical officer, called for a 50p-a-unit minimum price. However, this idea was quickly quashed by Gordon Brown, then Prime Minister, who said he did not want to "punish the sensible majority".
Health officials are now understood to be examining schemes which could prevent the sale of alcohol at under 40p or 50p a unit in shops and supermarkets.
Scotland is currently proposing a minimum alcohol price of about 45p a unit.
This which would mean a bottle of own-brand gin with about 37.5 per cent alcohol content would go up from £6.95 to £11.85, and a bottle of cheap wine would rise from about £3.75 to £4.20..
Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9061885/Two-glasses-of-wine-a-night-triples-risk-of-mouth-cancer-Government-warns.html
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is uncommon, but cases have risen by 20 per cent in the past three decades. It affects twice as many men as women.
High blood pressure is far more common, with about 12 million sufferers in the UK, about 7 million of whom are diagnosed.
Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, said the campaign was being launched "to alert people that it is not just binge drinkers who damage their health".
David Cameron has recently indicated that he might back a minimum alcohol price in England to deter excess consumption, overruling the advice of Mr Lansley, who believes the move would have little impact.
In 2009, Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, the then chief medical officer, called for a 50p-a-unit minimum price. However, this idea was quickly quashed by Gordon Brown, then Prime Minister, who said he did not want to "punish the sensible majority".
Health officials are now understood to be examining schemes which could prevent the sale of alcohol at under 40p or 50p a unit in shops and supermarkets.
Scotland is currently proposing a minimum alcohol price of about 45p a unit.
This which would mean a bottle of own-brand gin with about 37.5 per cent alcohol content would go up from £6.95 to £11.85, and a bottle of cheap wine would rise from about £3.75 to £4.20..
Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9061885/Two-glasses-of-wine-a-night-triples-risk-of-mouth-cancer-Government-warns.html
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