Even one alcoholic beverage increases chance of cancer, addiction, brain damage: Study

The Health Council is advising the government to actively discourage alcohol use and reduce its social acceptability. According to the council, even a single daily drink carries health risks, and there is no level of alcohol consumption that can be considered safe. The advice was presented on Thursday to Health Minister Sophie Hermans.

At the request of the minister, the Health Council has reviewed the health and social impacts of alcohol consumption. The council reports strong evidence that any level of drinking increases the risk of seven types of cancer.

It also links alcohol use to a higher risk of organ damage, impaired brain function, and addiction. Beyond health effects, alcohol contributes to unsafe traffic situations and is associated with a greater likelihood of aggression and violent incidents.

The council concludes that alcohol poses risks not only to public health but also to public safety. As a result, it recommends policies designed to reduce the social acceptability of drinking and discourage alcohol use among all age groups and sections of society.

The council recognises that changing attitudes towards alcohol will not be easy, particularly because drinking is widely regarded as a normal part of social life. However, it also points to a growing group of people who are deliberately choosing to abstain from alcohol and says they could benefit from efforts to shift broader social norms around drinking.

The council found no scientific evidence for “the often-cited beneficial effect that alcohol consumption promotes social cohesion in society.” The idea that moderate alcohol consumption could provide health benefits is also not sufficiently supported by evidence, the council said.

“With this advice, we simply can no longer delay introducing stronger alcohol policies,” said Dorine Manson, director of KWF Kankerbestrijding. She was speaking on behalf of De Gezonde Generatie, an initiative backed by 23 health organisations.

“Young people are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol, and advertising encourages them to start drinking earlier and consume more alcohol. That is something we should absolutely avoid. We therefore call on the government to protect young people through strong legal restrictions on alcohol marketing that reaches them,” Manson added.

The Health Council is an independent scientific advisory body to parliament and the government.