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One in 10 breast cancer cases and deaths are caused by alcohol, according to new research.

The Irish Cancer Society has urged the government to implement the public health alcohol bill 2015 in order to tackle the problem.

Donal Buggy, Head of Services and Advocacy, at the Irish Cancer Society said: “There is widespread scientific evidence of the link between alcohol and breast cancer, but little public awareness of it.

"In 2013, in Ireland 12% of breast cancers were caused by alcohol – that’s 353 cases a year. In the same year 69 women died from a breast cancer caused by alcohol.

“If we are to seriously tackle the rising cancer numbers we need to tackle Ireland’s high alcohol consumption rate in tandem. Every year 900 new cancers and 500 cancer deaths are attributable to alcohol.

"We are urging politicians to support the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 which is back before the Seanad today. It is now crucially important to progress it this Dáil term.”

The public health alcohol bill contains labelling of alcohol products, minimum unit pricing for retailing of alcohol products, regulation of marketing and advertising of alcohol and enforcement powers for Environmental Health Officers.

Mr. Buggy said: “People are simply not aware of the cancer risk associated with drinking alcohol and we need to ensure they are presented with the facts. For every one standard drink a day you drink there is a 7% increase in breast cancer. If you drink 3-6 standards drinks a day you increase the risk by 41%.”

“The message is to drink less. Of the 900 new cancers each year related to alcohol, half of them could be prevented if people drank within the Department of Health’s guidelines.”

This October the Irish Cancer Society is asking you to Paint it Pink! to join the fight against breast cancer.

Money raised will help provide services to support people through their cancer journey and also fund vital cancer research.

Visit www.paintitpink.ie or call 1850 60 60 60 for fundraising ideas and information on breast cancer. You can also donate by texting Pink to 50300 to give €4 to the Irish Cancer Society.