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Health

Genetic studies hint alcohol isn’t linked to breast cancer after all

By Clare Wilson

17 August 2019

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Breast cancer may not be linked to heavy drinking

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty

Could the health risks from booze be overblown? A new study has found that low levels of alcohol do not cause cancer, and even heavy drinking doesn’t cause breast cancer – contrary to official UK warnings.

The question of how much alcohol it is safe to drink has long been debated. Heavy drinkers are definitely more prone to mouth and throat cancers, and cirrhosis, where the liver starts failing, but it was long thought that light drinking was safe or possibly even good for you.

A growing number of…

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