Health Department encourages residents to participate in World No Alcohol Day Oct. 2

Whitby, Ontario – In recognition of World No Alcohol Day, Oct. 2, Durham Region Health Department is encouraging residents to take part in a global alcohol-free day. The purpose of World No Alcohol Day is to draw attention to the health risks of the abuse of alcohol and to help reduce alcohol-related problems. Residents can observe the day by learning about the harmful effects of alcohol and ensuring that they have non-drinking days.

Studies show that one in three Ontarians have experienced harm because of someone else’s drinking in the past year. To help inform residents about the harms and cancer risks associated with regular alcohol use, the Health Department recently launched a Durham-wide public awareness campaign entitled “What’s in your bottle?” through advertising, social media messages and online information.

“Many residents are unaware that even low to moderate alcohol consumption can increase their risk for cancer,” said Kerrianne Thompson, a public health nurse with the Health Department. “What many people find surprising is that as little as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men can increase a person’s risk of developing seven different types of cancer. Research shows that by reducing the amount of alcohol people drink, as many as 3,000 cancer-related deaths could be prevented each year in Ontario.”

 According to the Canadian Cancer Society, only one third of Ontario residents are aware that they can reduce their risk of cancer by reducing the amount of alcohol they drink. There are four ways alcohol causes cancer. Alcohol can damage cells in the body, it can increase the damage caused by tobacco use, it can affect the hormones linked to breast cancer in women and it can break down into cancer-causing chemicals. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer in the mouth, neck, throat, liver, female breast, colon and rectum. Ms. Thompson added that “it doesn’t matter whether a person drinks beer, wine or liquor, they all have the same risk for causing cancer.”

 While new measures have been implemented across the province to make alcohol more accessible, research shows that increased access to alcohol results in a rise in alcohol consumption, which is a concern for public health.  

“For many Canadians, drinking alcohol is a socially accepted and expected part of everyday activities, with alcohol served in a variety of settings and at many events,” explained Ms. Thompson. “However, many people remain unaware of the cancer risks that drinking poses. Through this campaign, the Health Department continues to work to get this message out to the public to help people make informed choices about their health.”

To learn more about alcohol and cancer and the “What’s in your bottle?” campaign, call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729, or visit durham.ca/alcohol.

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For more information, please contact Health Department.