WHO Warns: Even Small Amounts of Alcohol Can Cause Cancer, Other Health Risks
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong warning that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, stressing that even small amounts can increase the risk of cancer and other serious health conditions.
Medical experts note that alcohol affects nearly every organ in the body, raising the chances of heart disease, liver damage, depression, and several forms of cancer. Contrary to common belief, alcohol does not aid natural sleep but instead dulls brain activity, irritates the stomach, raises blood pressure, and fuels inflammation that may trigger clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
Professor Debbie Shawcross, a liver specialist at King’s College Hospital, London, explained that the body begins to recover almost immediately when drinking is reduced or stopped. “Within the first few weeks, there will be improvements in sleep quality, concentration, hydration, and digestion. In the long term, blood pressure falls and the strain on the liver reduces,” she said.
Research shows the risks are significant even with light drinking. One drink per week can increase cancer risk by 3%, while a daily glass of wine raises the risk of breast cancer by 15%. Consuming two bottles of wine weekly can increase the risk by as much as 27%.
Over time, alcohol can shrink brain tissue, disrupt memory, lower mood, and damage the liver, leading to fat deposits, scarring, cirrhosis, and higher cancer risk. However, doctors stress that the body is resilient. Within days of quitting, reflux and indigestion often ease, sleep deepens, and energy levels rise. After weeks, blood pressure begins to drop, and over months and years, brain chemistry stabilizes while risks of cirrhosis, heart disease, and cancer steadily decline.
Although health guidelines suggest limiting intake to no more than 14 units of alcohol per week—roughly six pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine—experts emphasize that the safest option is abstinence.
Health authorities maintain that alcohol remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and premature death worldwide. Their message is clear: every alcohol-free day gives the body a chance to heal.
COMMENTS