Researchers believe that even light-to-moderate levels of consumption of alcohol could increase the risk of cancer, based on two large studies carried out which involved 100,000 participants.
The findings, which looked at two US studies, were published in the British Medical Journal, and the clearest link to cancer was for breast cancer.
The recommendation from the NHS for alcohol consumption is for men to not exceed three to four units daily, on a regular basis, whilst for women this is two to three units.
Experts from the UK said that the risk of an individual who consumes light-to-moderate levels of alcohol developing cancer is very small, but it is still recommended to reduce the intake of alcohol.
As well as reducing alcohol intake, it is recommended to have days where no alcohol is consumed. As of yet there are no guidelines on how much alcohol is safe to consume, but if people follow the NHS recommendations then the risk to their health should be low.
It is being recommended by Dr Jurgen Rehm, from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, that people whose family has a history of cancer “should consider reducing their intake to below recommended limits or even abstaining altogether, given the now well-established link between moderate drinking and alcohol-related cancers.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “Whilst we have seen a fall in the number of people drinking heavily on a regular basis, drinking even small amounts of alcohol regularly can increase the risks of some health conditions.”
For a healthy lifestyle, you should limit your alcohol consumption, exercise regularly, and follow a healthy diet.