The strength of the relationship to levels of average alcohol consumption varies for different cancers. For example, with regard to female breast cancer, each additional 10 g of pure alcohol per day (roughly one standard drink; in the UK 1 standard drink is 8 g of ethanol, in Australia it is 10 g, in South Africa 12 g and in the USA 14g. 12 g is probably the most common mass for 1 standard drink – [18])is associated with an increase of 7% in the relative risk (RR) of breast cancer whereas regular consumption of approximately 50g of pure alcohol increases the relative risk of colorectal cancer by between 10% and 20%, indicating that the association is stronger for female breast cancer[7]. The relationship of average consumption to larynx, pharynx and oesophagus cancer on the other hand is markedly higher than the relationship to both breast and colorectal cancer (more than 100% increase for an average consumption of 50 g pure alcohol per day; [16]).
