Regular drinkers at higher risk of skin cancer, finds study

People who regularly drink alcohol increase their risk of skin cancer by around a fifth, new research suggests.

Experts from Italy, Sweden and the US found that drinkers have about a 20-per cent increased chance of melanoma compared to non-drinkers or those who only drink occasionally.

The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, included analysis of 16 worldwide studies involving more than 16,200 patients with melanoma.

Light drinkers, defined as people who drank less than one drink a day (with one drink defined as 12.5g alcohol), had a 10-per cent increased risk of skin cancer, rising to 18 per cent for moderate to heavy drinkers.

In the UK, 12.5g of alcohol is the equivalent of 1.56 units. It is often defined as the amount in one drink by researchers. Experts said previous research had already linked drinking with a higher chance of people getting sunburnt. They said, "Consumption of alcoholic beverages during outdoor leisure activities such as barbecuing and sunbathing is common."

There are 12,800 new cases of malignant melanoma – the worst form of the disease – each year. Cancer Research UK's Sarah Williams said, ''Most cases of melanoma are caused by overexposure to UV rays – you can reduce the risk by avoiding sunburn.''