Alcohol is a known human carcinogen for humans that increases the risk of oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, oesophageal, liver, colorectal and (female) breast cancers.1, 2 There is also evidence that risk of developing these cancers increases with higher levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., that there is a dose-response relationship).1, 3, 4 Notably, even small amounts of alcohol can increase cancer risk. In addition, the joint effect of alcohol consumption and behavioural risk factors such as smoking and poor dietary practices further increases the risk of cancer.
About this measure
In 2010, it was estimated that alcohol-attributable cancers represented about 4.2 percent of all global cancer deaths, and 4.6 percent of all potential ‘Years-of-Life-Lost’ as a result of cancer.6 It has also been estimated that between three to six percent of all cancer cases in Australia are attributable to consumption of alcohol.5, 7 On this basis, given that the numbers of newly diagnosed cancer in 2010 (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) was 119,212, up to 7,153 cancer diagnoses could be attributed to the consumption of alcohol.
Apparent annual alcohol consumption data are collected in many countries and allow for a comparison of Australian and international trends in consumption. Apparent annual per capita (i.e., per person per year) alcohol consumption in Australia is estimated from the total volume of pure alcohol available for consumption each year, divided by the total population number for people aged 15 years and over.8 Data for this measure have been collected in Australia since 1960-61and its inclusion in the NCCI Framework enables the assessment of alcohol consumption at a population level over time.
Current status
In 2017-18, the apparent annual consumption of alcohol in Australia was 9.5 litres per capita.8
Australia has a relatively high apparent annual alcohol consumption rate per capita compared with other developed countries. In the most recent year for which data are available, the range of apparent annual consumption rates among selected developed countries was 6.0–11.7 litres per capita.9
Trends
Data on apparent alcohol consumption data have been regularly collected in Australia since 1960-61, providing trend data over a long time. These data indicate that per capita consumption increased throughout the 1960s and peaked in the mid-1970s when the annual consumption rate was 13.1 litres per capita. Since that time, average annual alcohol consumption has declined by approximately 27.5%, to around 9.5 litres per capita. Most of this decline occurred in the 1980s, concomitant with a marked decrease in consumption of beer.8 Since 2006-07, there has been an overall decrease in the apparent alcohol consumption rate from 10.8 to 9.5 litres per capita.
The range in apparent alcohol consumption rates among selected developed countries is generally much smaller today than it was in the 1970s, with the average adult in each country consuming between 6 and 12 litres per person per year.9
About the data
Unit of analysis
Apparent per capita alcohol consumption is estimated from the total volume of pure alcohol available for consumption each year, divided by the total population aged 15 years and over. Data are available at the national level only.
Numerator: The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption is derived from estimates for beer, wine, spirits, ready-to-drink beverages, and cider, in litres.
Denominator: Total population aged 15 years and over.
Derivations from this definition: Estimates for pure alcohol available in the form of cider is derived indirectly using survey consumption data.
The most recent year for data availablity for each country is as follows:
| Australia | 2017 | Japan | 2019 |
| Canada | 2020 | Korea | 2019 |
| Chile | 2019 | Netherlands | 2019 |
| Denmark | 2019 | New Zealand | 2020 |
| Finland | 2019 | Norway | 2020 |
| France | 2019 | Spain | 2019 |
| Germany | 2019 | Sweden | 2019 |
| Ireland | 2020 | United Kingdom | 2019 |
| Italy | 2019 | United States | 2019 |
References
Activity in this area
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019. 4307.0.55.001 - Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2017-18. Canberra: ABS.
National Alcohol Strategy 2019-2028. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-alcohol-strategy-2019-2028
References
- Cancer Australia 2015. Position Statement: Lifestyle risk factors and the primary prevention of cancer. [cited 2020 February]; Available from: http://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/position-statements/lifestyle-risk-factors-and-primary-prevention-cancer
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Australian Burden of Disease Study 2015: Interactive data on risk factor burden. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease interactive-data-risk-factor-burden
- Bagnardi, V., Rota, M., Botteri, E., Tramacere, I., Islami, F., Fedirko, V., Scotti, L., Jenab, M., Turati, F., Pasquali, E., Pelucchi, C., Galeone, C., Bellocco, R., Negri, E., Corrao, G., Boffetta, P., and La Vecchia, C. 2015. Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis. Br J Cancer, 112(3): p. 580-593.4.
- Schutze, M., Boeing, H., Pischon, T., Rehm, J., Kehoe, T., Gmel, G., Olsen, A., Tjonneland, A.M., Dahm, C.C., Overvad, K., Clavel-Chapelon, F., Boutron-Ruault, M.C., Trichopoulou, A., Benetou, V., Zylis, D., Kaaks, R., Rohrmann, S., Palli, D., Berrino, F., Tumino, R., Vineis, P., Rodriguez, L., Agudo, A., Sanchez, M.J., Dorronsoro, M., Chirlaque, M.D., Barricarte, A., Peeters, P.H., van Gils, C.H., Khaw, K.T., Wareham, N., Allen, N.E., Key, T.J., Boffetta, P., Slimani, N., Jenab, M., Romaguera, D., Wark, P.A., Riboli, E., and Bergmann, M.M. 2011. Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study. BMJ, 342: p. d1584.
- Pandeya, N., Wilson, L.F., Webb, P.M., Neale, R.E., Bain, C.J., and Whiteman, D.C. 2015. Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to the consumption of alcohol. Aust N Z J Public Health, 39(5): p. 408-413.
- Rehm, K. and Shield, K.D. 2013. Alcohol and mortality: Global alcohol-attributable deaths from cancer, liver cirrhosis, and injury in 2010. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 35(2): p. 174-183.
- Winstanley, M.H., Pratt, I.S., Chapman, K., Griffin, H.J., Croager, E.J., Olver, I.N., Sinclair, C., and Slevin, T.J. 2011. Alcohol and cancer: a position statement from Cancer Council Australia. Med J Aust, 194(9): p. 479-482.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics 2019. Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2017-18. ABS: Canberra.
- OECD.Stat. 2019. Health Status. [cited 2020 April]; Available from: http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=HEALTH_STAT#