Alcohol and cancer debated in Parliament
Following on from Cancer Prevention Action Week in June, MPs gathered to discuss the link between alcohol and cancer in a Westminster Hall debate on 8 July.
Cat Smith MP opened by highlighting that despite alcohol being classified as a group one carcinogen almost 40 years ago, this is the first debate of its kind. She underlined the explosive increase in alcohol harm seen since the pandemic and the stark inequalities in who this affects.
Members discussed the impact on families, the treatment sector, and the lack of government action since the last national alcohol strategy in 2012. Grahame Morris MP announced that the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice have just launched a report calling for action on alcohol.
In response, public health minister Ashley Dalton MP stated that the announcements in the 10 Year Health Plan represented the beginning, and not the end of action on alcohol. Ms Dalton stated that although there are currently no plans to introduce an alcohol strategy, there will be more information on how the Government will deal with alcohol and cancer prevention in the National Cancer Plan expected later this year. The Minister also agreed to meet with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice to discuss further.
Alcohol Change UK raise awareness around alcohol in the workplace
Earlier this July it was Alcohol Awareness Week, with the theme alcohol and work.
New research by Alcohol Change UK found that almost two thirds (64%) of UK workers report drinking alcohol for work-related reasons, with job stress, pressure and anxiety driving up work-related consumption in the past year.
Despite widespread use, over a third (36%) of workers said they feel more comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace than alcohol. A similar proportion (33%) thought their workplace would benefit from alcohol awareness and education.
Alcohol Change UK are sending free guide to workplaces nominated by employees via this form, and have produced a guide for individuals to make changes themselves.
One in four doctors say half their caseload is alcohol-related
New survey findings from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) reveal the significant toll alcohol dependence continues to have on patient health and recovery amid new calls for urgent government action on alcohol-related harms.
One in four (25%) physicians said at least half of their average caseload was made up of patients whose conditions have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol dependence. Over a third (36%) said they’d seen an increase in patients with alcohol dependence in the last 5 years.
Dr Mumtaz Patel, president of RCP, said: ‘These findings confirm what physicians are experiencing every day – alcohol related problems are a constant and serious factor in poor health outcomes. It’s not only contributing to the onset of illness but also making it harder for patients to recover and benefit from treatment. This affects the most deprived populations disproportionately.
As doctors, we treat the consequences of poor health, but we urgently need bold government action on prevention. A national alcohol strategy is essential. While we were pleased to see commitment on new standards for alcohol labelling in the 10-Year Health Plan so that people understand the risks, this alone is not enough. The RCP is backing the call for stricter marketing rules to protect vulnerable groups and minimum unit pricing to curb the availability of cheap, harmful alcohol. These are tried-and-tested interventions that can save lives, reduce pressure on the NHS, and improve the nation’s health.’
How the alcohol industry twist the facts on harm and responsibility
A new report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) identifies and assesses the credibility of claims made by alcohol companies and trade groups make inaccurate claims.
These include oft-reported claims including that the alcohol sector is overtaxed and on the brink of collapse, and that the industry is part of the solution to the the problem of alcohol harm.
The report clearly lays out how evidence discounts these claims, and makes several recommendations to policymakers, including:
- acknowledge the essential conflict of interest between alcohol industry economic objectives and public health goals, in accordance with WHO recommendations;
- reject partnerships with alcohol and all health-harming industries due to the fundamental conflict of interest, particularly in schools and on initiatives aimed at children and young people;
- establish good governance processes that promote transparency and protect health-focused policymaking from alcohol industry interference; and
- put communities first: pay attention to community-level harms, which disproportionately impact the most vulnerable and worsen inequalities.
Campaigning on liver health
The APPG on Liver Disease and Liver Cancer visited the Royal Free liver unit in June. Professor Doug Thorburn, Group Chief Executive Peter Landstrom, Chief Executive David Cranpsey, Chief Medical Officer Gillian Smith and the Trust’s Cancer Lead, Roopinder Gillmore and Professor Tim Meyer, met with Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust and APPG members Dr Beccy Cooper MP and Lorraine Beavers MP.
Jackie Baillie MSP, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care and Drugs Policy, joined the Love Your Liver roadshow in Dumbarton in June.
Events
A turning point for cancer? A discussion of the cancer in the UK report
Cancer Research UK
29 July 2025, 10.30–11.30am
Scotland’s first Managed Alcohol Programme: evaluating the impact to inform future service delivery and research
SHAAP/SARN
1 September 2025, 12.45–2.00pm
Alcohol availability policies – regulating access to reduce consumption
World Health Organization
3 September 2025, 9.00–10.00am
Alcohol and Families Alliance celebrate Recovery Month in Parliament
Alcohol and Families Alliance
10 September 2025, 3.00–5.00pm
Contact phull@ias.org.uk for information
MCA Annual Symposium 2025 on Alcohol and Health: Alcohol in the Workplace
Medical Council on Alcohol
19 November 2025
Early bird tickets close 28 July
