Do as I do, think about cancer before you have a glass of wine, says chief medical officer
Britain’s most senior doctor has urged women to “do as I do” and think about the risks of breast cancer before deciding whether to have a glass of wine. Dame Sally Davies – accused of “nanny state” attitudes when she issued advice last month warning against drinking any alcohol – said the public should follow her lead. ‘Do I want the glass of wine or do I want to raise my own risk of breast cancer?’ Giving evidence to a Commons select committee this week, she said that the public should contemplate the risks of cancer before taking a sip. “Do as I do when I reach for my glass of wine – think ‘Do I want the glass of wine or do I want to raise my own risk of breast cancer?’ she told MPs. “I take a decision each time I have a glass.”
With guidance on the maximum number of alcohol units falling from 21 to 14, the first update for 21 years, The chief medical officer said her guidance was “advice not an instruction”. She told MPs: “I would be done if I didn’t tell people the science. I have to tell the truth and make sure that it’s out there and it should be 14 units [per week] spread over a few days for both men and women.” research published with last month’s guidance shows that drinking within the guidelines carries an increased risk of disease, raising lifetime risk to 12.64 per cent, compared with 10.90 per cent for teetotallers. For men the dangers of drinking at these levels are far less clear. The report warns of increased risk for several types of disease – but they are among some of the least common cancers, such as that of the oesophagus and lip.
To put this in context, an hour of TV watching a day, eating a bacon sandwich a couple of times a week or driving is probably more dangerous to your long-term health.