Napier chosen for 'Alcohol causes cancer' meeting

Professor Jennie Connor will present her findings at six national venues - one of which being in Napier.

Napier has been chosen as one of six national venues for a public presentation covering findings from a new paper by Professor Jennie Connor in which she says shows alcohol can cause cancer in at least seven tissues of the body.

The paper's findings were published in the latest edition of the prestigious international journal Addiction.

Professor Connor will be the main speaker at the six meetings to be held next month by Alcohol Action at Napier, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Timaru and Nelson.

The Napier meeting will take place on August 17 at 7pm, at the Napier City Council Chambers. Its title will be "101 things the alcohol industry won't tell you about alcohol ... let's start with this one - alcohol causes cancer".

Professor Connor's paper concludes that the evidence alcohol causes cancer is strong for the oropharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast sites. It also raises doubts about evidence that alcohol can prevent cardiovascular disease.

"The alcohol industry can be relied on to do its best in casting doubt on this important public information," Professor Doug Sellman, medical spokesperson for Alcohol Action NZ, said.

"The industry has consistently and irresponsibly fostered the belief that drinking alcohol is good for your health, while remaining completely silent about the strong link that alcohol has with cancer," Mr Sellman said.