There's nothing wrong with letting your hair down at the end of a long working week and downing a beer or two with your friends.

The only problem is, the booze you're downing could put you at risk of cancer!

An increase of five per cent

A new Japanese research has found that even light to moderate alcohol consumption could increase an individual’s risk of cancer.

According to a report by AFP-Relaxnews, the research was conducted by the University of Tokyo and Kanto Rosai Hospital, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the United States.

The survey reportedly gathered data from 33 general hospitals throughout Japan, including from 63,232 cancer patients.


The participants were asked to report the average daily amount of standardised alcohol units they consumed and the length of time they have been drinking it for.

The study found that participants who had the lowest overall cancer risk drank zero alcohol and as alcohol consumption increased, so did the risk of cancer.

The research team found that even a light level of drinking at a 10-drink-year point, which is equivalent to one drink per day for 10 years or two drinks per day for five years, would increase overall cancer risk by five per cent.


Those who drank two or less drinks per day were found to have an increased cancer risk, regardless of how long they had been drinking alcohol.

When it comes to gender, both men and women have an increased risk regardless of other drinking/smoking behaviours and occupational class.

Time to go light or completely stop alcohol consumption, guys?