TOPIC:

"sbillings":24iqxjg4 wrote: I would not be at all surprised if the cancers mentioned where ones where alcohol is considered a co-factor. Like throat cancer, for example. If they don't mind being a bit disingenuous, they could put all throat cancer into the smoking related deaths category when talking about smoking and then plop them into the alcohol related deaths column when talking about alcohol.

It's like simply quoting the rates of liver disease when talking about alcohol, as if all liver damage is down to drink, ignoring other causes like some illegal and prescription drugs, diseases like Hepatitis, etc/[/quote:24iqxjg4]


It all appears to be constructed a little disingeuously to be honest.
They don't produce real numbers because they aren't impressive until they are turned into statistics and as a statistic they take on a new meaning and increase a few hundred fold....

Is this the tail wagging the dog?
Maybe there some other motive for pushing these 'statistics' into the media.
Are the media slack on real news, looking to stir up debate and sell copy?

How about this for an example of how statistics can be made fit your point of view,
1 "Because horse meat was found in Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"
2 "After the horse meat was removed from Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"

"CrsZ00":1qp8hd0q wrote: How about this for an example of how statistics can be made fit your point of view,
1 "Because horse meat was found in Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"
2 "After the horse meat was removed from Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"[/quote:1qp8hd0q]

So you're saying that their price controls and health warnings are all flawed tactics and that they should just put some horse meat into beer to reduce the "alcohol problem"?

"padraic":231g1xlf wrote:

"CrsZ00":231g1xlf wrote: How about this for an example of how statistics can be made fit your point of view,
1 "Because horse meat was found in Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"
2 "After the horse meat was removed from Tesco burgers sales decreased dramatically"[/quote:231g1xlf]

So you're saying that their price controls and health warnings are all flawed tactics and that they should just put some horse meat into beer to reduce the "alcohol problem"?[/quote:231g1xlf]
Exactly

I have been away on my holliers (in Algarve) and so am coming back to this topic a little late. As I tweeted to the Irish Cancer Society at the time (just before I left); Alcohol is NOT listed as a carcinogen. I deal with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) every working day and the one for alcohol (ethanol) does not list it as being a carcinogen or even as a suspected carcinogen. That is a fact of the matter. Where the ICS are probably getting confused about are the following 2 points;

1. Acetaldehyde is a carcinogen, and is a by-product of ethanol when broken down in the body - that's one of the reasons for a hangover (along with dehydration). But as I understand it - that happens from drinking to excess.

2. Alcohol (especially when taken in high ABV form e.g. spirits) can lead to sensitisation of the throat area and increases the risk of developing throat cancer for those who smoke.

Alcohol is NOT carcinogenic!