Drinking alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, pharyngeal (upper throat) cancer, oesophageal (food pipe) cancer, laryngeal (voice box) cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer.

Having conversations with patients about the amount of alcohol they consume can be challenging. However, it is vital that health care professionals are fully informed and feel confident in advising services users about the potentially unexpected harm that alcohol can cause.

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) has published a brochure that examines the trends of alcohol-attributable...

Abstract

There is increasing emphasis on screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for unhealthy alcohol use in the general hospital, as highlighted by new Joint Commission recommendations on SBIRT. However, the evidence supporting this approach is not as robust relative to primary care settings. This review is targeted to hospital-based clinicians and administrators who are responsible for generally ensuring the provision of high quality care to patients presenting with a myriad of conditions, one of which is unhealthy alcohol use. The review summarizes the major...

Globally, alcohol consumption is estimated to cause more than 10% of the burden of noncommunicable diseases, including cirrhosis of the liver, respiratory disease, pancreatitis, cancers (oral and pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectal), strokes and hypertension.

Dag Rekve and colleagues claim: "Despite the existence of cost effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol, many countries are not giving it the attention it deserves"

This analysis, published by the bmj, provides evidence that points to a continuing need for action on alcohol in all countries. 

It also...

Abstract

Objectives: Mental health problems and hazardous alcohol consumption often co-exist. Hazardous drinking could have a negative impact on different aspects of health and also negatively influence the effect of mental health treatment. The aims of this study were to examine if alcohol consumption patterns changed after treatment for depression and if the changes differed by treatment arm and patient sex.

Methods: This study of 540 participants was conducted in a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aimed to compare the effect of internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy...