Cancer Society position statement on alcohol and cancer

Alcohol is a known cause of seven cancers. Avoiding or reducing alcohol is the best way to prevent these cancers, experienced more by Māori. This position statement recommends policies to address alcohol availability, affordability and marketing to equitably reduce alcohol consumption and related cancers in Aotearoa, NZ.

Summary of recommendations
To reduce the incidence and inequitable distribution of alcohol-attributable cancers in Aotearoa, evidence-based
population strategies are needed to reduce the availability, affordability and marketing of alcohol. The Cancer
Society supports the following:

a. Raising public awareness of the alcohol-related cancer risks.
b. Raising the price of alcoholic beverages through taxation and minimum pricing.
c. Restricting all forms of alcohol promotion (including digital media) and sponsorship and establishing an
independent authority to regulate and monitor alcohol marketing.
d. Reducing the availability of alcohol through restricting alcohol outlet density and trading hours and enabling
greater community control to constrain the right of appeal by vested interests such as alcohol producers,
suppliers and distributors.