"I was a high-functioning drinker": the silent risk few know about
Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light.
In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact.
Read more from The Senior:
Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said.
"My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking."
Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning.
"A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said.
"[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire."
Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices.
University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases.
"People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said.
Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone.
In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products.
But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International.
This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post.
Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells".
"Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said.
The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel.
Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life.
"I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said.
"I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad."
But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships".
"I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said.
Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them.
Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels.
"It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said.
Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport.
"That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said.
Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar.
But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research.
"The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said.
Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer.
"There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said.
Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level."
The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together.
University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant.
"If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said.
"It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented."
The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario.
"I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said.
But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society.
The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states.
Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer.
"I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said.
"It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that?
"They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens."
Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof.
"I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said.
For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them.
"I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said.
Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades.
Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light.
In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact.
Read more from The Senior:
Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said.
"My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking."
Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning.
"A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said.
"[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire."
Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices.
University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases.
"People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said.
Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone.
In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products.
But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International.
This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post.
Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells".
"Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said.
The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel.
Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life.
"I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said.
"I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad."
But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships".
"I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said.
Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them.
Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels.
"It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said.
Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport.
"That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said.
Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar.
But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research.
"The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said.
Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer.
"There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said.
Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level."
The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together.
University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant.
"If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said.
"It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented."
The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario.
"I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said.
But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society.
The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states.
Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer.
"I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said.
"It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that?
"They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens."
Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof.
"I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said.
For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them.
"I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said.
Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades.
Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light.
In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact.
Read more from The Senior:
Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said.
"My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking."
Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning.
"A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said.
"[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire."
Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices.
University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases.
"People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said.
Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone.
In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products.
But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International.
This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post.
Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells".
"Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said.
The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel.
Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life.
"I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said.
"I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad."
But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships".
"I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said.
Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them.
Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels.
"It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said.
Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport.
"That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said.
Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar.
But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research.
"The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said.
Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer.
"There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said.
Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level."
The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together.
University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant.
"If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said.
"It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented."
The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario.
"I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said.
But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society.
The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states.
Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer.
"I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said.
"It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that?
"They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens."
Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof.
"I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said.
For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them.
"I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said.
Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
A popular consumable entrenched in Australian culture may make us feel good at the time, but it's slowly destroying our health, yet the federal government's known for decades.
Reaching for a bottle of pinot or a can of tasty pale ale may come with confronting warnings (just as cigarettes do) in the near future, with experts pushing for the truth to be brought into the light.
In 1988, alcohol was revealed to be as toxic as asbestos, radiation and tobacco, and labelled a Group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, yet it's a widely unknown fact.
Read more from The Senior:
Cancer survivor Belinda Stark, 56, from Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, described herself as a "high-functioning heavy drinker" before becoming sober three years ago. She now wonders whether her lifestyle contributed to her diagnosis.
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago, and I knew there was a slight [cancer] risk, but I chose to put my head in the sand and continue to drink," the women's alcohol coach said.
"My GP, radiologists, oncologists and surgeons - not one ever asked me how much I drank or if I should stop drinking."
Ms Stark is concerned others battling cancer still aren't being warned of the dangers of drinking alcohol, or if it puts them at a higher risk of the disease returning.
"A lot of women my age treat it as a reward or an escape," she said.
"[Especially women with menopause], alcohol was like pouring gas on the fire."
Around one in three people (31per cent or 6.6 million Aussies) aged 14 and over consumed alcohol at risky levels in 2022-2023, according to the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
Researchers from the University of NSW are pushing the Federal Government for mandatory warning labels on all alcohol products so people can make informed choices.
University of NSW Research Officer of the Drug Policy Modelling Program, Dr Sarah Clifford, said the labels were more 'palatable' than reducing trading hours or price increases.
"People like to be able to make their own decisions and I think providing evidence on a label is a good way to enable that," she said.
Dr Clifford added that labels don't victim-blame and were accessible to everyone.
In 2019, Canada had a short-lived campaign putting cancer warning labels on alcohol, before the alcohol industry threatened to sue. At the same time, South Korea warned of liver cancer on its alcohol products.
But in a world first, Ireland pledged in 2018 it would mandate labels stating "a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers" on all alcohol products from May 2026, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International.
This has now been delayed three years after the alcohol industry lobbied the Government and fears of increased trade tariffs with the USA, according to the Irish Post.
Cancer Institute NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Professor Tracey O'Brien told The Senior it's the ethanol in alcohol that is the cancer-causing compound because when the body breaks it down, it becomes "a toxic chemical which can damage the DNA of cells".
"Drinking alcohol is linked to eight different types of cancer including breast, liver and stomach cancer and causes an estimated 5800 cancer cases in Australia each year," she said.
The other cancers linked to alcohol consumption are mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus and bowel.
Caroline Bellenger, 56, from the Gold Coast, gave up drinking 16 years ago after it nearly "destroyed" her life.
"I just partied a lot right through to my 30s," she said.
"I wouldn't have stopped drinking if there had been labels because I smoked too and I knew that was bad."
But after drinking more at home after the birth of her child, Ms Bellenger became addicted and checked into rehab. Now she has a life full of fitness, a successful business as a corporate wellness speaker, and "positive relationships".
"I've lost a father and a brother to cancer, but I never, at any point, connected alcohol to cancer," she said.
Ms Bellenger believes the younger generation are now more health-conscious and having labels could impact them.
Cancer Council Deputy Chair of Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity Committee, Julia Stafford, said it's "very well established" that alcohol causes cancer and it wouldn't cost the Government much to implement warning labels.
"It's a no-brainer for governments to be working towards requiring the alcohol industry to include mandated, standardised, tested, noticeable health warning messages on alcohol products," she said.
Ms Stafford said both the alcohol and advertising industries are "largely left to write their own rules" on how alcohol is marketed, especially around sport.
"That does nothing to protect the community ... particularly young people," she said.
Many consumers of alcohol have been led to believe certain types are healthy - such as products that are low in carbs, gluten-free, have antioxidants or are low in sugar.
But as long as a drink contains the alcohol, it is considered unhealthy, according to research.
"The only people who benefit from that myth that red wine is good for you, is the alcohol industry," Ms Stafford said.
Professor O'Brien believes there is "no level of alcohol" that is completely safe and every drink consumed can increase a person's chance of getting cancer.
"There is evidence that among NSW adults aged over 45 years, the risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases by 10 per cent with every seven standard drinks consumed per week," she said.
Other countries have specific guides on alcohol consumption and diseases, such as Canada, which states: "3 to 6 standard drinks per week, your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level."
The problem with Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council's guidelines, is it isn't cancer specific and all alcohol-related diseases are thrown in together.
University of NSW Drug Policy Modelling Program Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Wilkinson said it took 16 years to get warning labels telling Australians the danger of drinking while pregnant.
"If we want to introduce a cancer warning label, we have to be aware that it occurs in this very politicised area where there's a lot of money involved, " she said.
"It's likely also to face resistance in being implemented."
The University of NSW academics said labels in Australia could take at least eight years to be approved and implemented by the government - and that is the best-case scenario.
"I think it's worth being aware of the fact that governments do receive lobbying and donation from these [alcohol] groups," Dr Clifford said.
But for all the money the Government raises from alcohol sales is just a drop in the ocean to the real cost to society.
The estimated social cost of alcohol was a whopping $66.8 billion in 2017 - 2018, which includes healthcare, crime and lost productivity, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
But only $7.5 billion was the expected alcohol duty to be paid to the Government for 2022-23, the ATO states.
Sydney-based Feng Shui Master Jane Langof has been sober for nearly 20-years because of health reasons and its link to cancer.
"I used to go to breast cancer parties where they were raising money," she said.
"It was called Bubbles and Boobs. How ironic is that?
"They're trying to raise money for cancer, [with one of the] biggest carcinogens."
Knowing alcohol can also contribute significantly to weight gain, giving up alcohol was easy for Ms Langof.
"I'd rather eat my calories than drink them," she said.
For anyone thinking of giving up drinking but finding it hard, Ms Bellenger wants them to know what a rich life is waiting for them.
"I don't feel like I've given up anything. I feel like I've gained a lot more," she said.
Do you or someone you know have a problem with drinking?
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
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- Perth Now
Deadly reason common cheese brands pulled
Multiple cheese brands sold across major Aussie supermarkets have been urgently recalled over a potentially crippling bacteria infection. The Australian food regulator on Friday issued multiple recalls for soft cheeses sold across the country, including Mon Ami and Emborg, Specially Selected French L'ovale Cheese, Emporium Selected French Brie and Buche Belle du Bocage sold by the companies K-SEIN and Washed Rind. Seven different types of cheese should not be eaten because of a possible listeria contamination. The affected types sold by Mon Ami include 200g brie, 200g camembert, 125g petit camembert, 300g double cream le fromager, and 125g double cream French brie. People need to throw out Emborg's French 200g brie and 200g camembert. Mon Ami and Emborg French soft cheeses sold at Coles, IGA and Woolworths have been recalled over listeria contamination concerns. Food Standards Australia Credit: Supplied The recall affects all of these cheeses with date markings up to and including October 1, 2025. 'Global Foods Group are conducting a recall of the above products,' the Food Standards alert says. 'Consumers should not eat this product.' 'The products have been available for sale in Woolworths, Coles, IGA and other independent grocery stores nationally and online.' Consumers can return the cheese to the place they bought it for a full refund. Global Foods is concerned about a possible listeria contamination of the cheeses. Listeria infection symptoms can start as a fever, headache, diarrhoea or vomiting. In particularly vulnerable people such as the elderly or immunocompromised, these symptoms can develop into life-threatening complications. Pregnant women are 10-times more likely than a regular adult to get a Listeria infection, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says. An infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm labour. ALDI is conducting recalls of their Specially Selected French L'ovale Cheese and Emporium Selected French Brie. Supplied Credit: Supplied Buche Belle du Bocage products sold by both K-SEIN (pictured) and Washed Rind are also being recalled. Supplied Credit: Supplied Specially Selected French L'ovale 300g and Emporium Selection 125g cheeses are sold at ALDI stores across all Australian states and territories, with the same October date codes. The Buche Belle du Bocage sold by Washed Rind Pty Ltd is available for sale at independent retailers in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and WA – in addition to the Boccacio Supa IGA in Victoria, Ainslie IGA in the ACT and Thirroul IGA in NSW. They bear the dates of July 15, August 14 and August 15. K-SEIN Pty Ltd's brand of Buche Belle du Bocage – sold between July 30 and August 13 – was sold at the K-SEIN Fromagerie in Victoria.
SBS Australia
5 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Feeling depressed or out of sorts after the weekend? You could have 'social apnoea'
It's common to feel tired and apprehensive on a Monday morning, and that can be especially true after a big weekend. New research has mapped how people's quality of sleep changes throughout the week, and has found patterns between fatigue and behaviour. It's estimated around one billion people worldwide have obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), a condition that impacts their quality of sleep. Australian researchers have found this underlying condition is more prevalent on weekends than on weekdays, and they have labelled this phenomenon — 'social apnoea'. It can affect anyone, even if you don't typically show symptoms of OSA during the week. So why is that the case? 'Social jet lag' Professor Danny Eckert, a sleep health expert from Flinders University, was one of the lead researchers in the study that was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. He described social apnoea as a kind of "social jet lag", a feeling that can arise after the weekend, when our behaviours often differ from those on weekdays. "We know that people who smoke tend to smoke more on the weekend. We know that people who drink tend to drink more on the weekend," he told SBS News. "They are two sort of lifestyles or social factors if you like, that are very influential in the way we sleep and breathe." Eckert said another key change in weekend behaviour is that our sleep patterns often change, which can cause problems with our sleep quality and overall mood. People who sleep in on weekends were found to have a 50 per cent higher risk of developing a sleep disorder, according to the study. "Our circadian rhythm, or our body clock, is slow to move; it takes several days to adjust," he said. "So if we suddenly change our sleep timing, and we've all experienced this at different times with jet lag and these kinds of things, we're sleeping out of whack from what our body wants us to." What are the long-term effects? Weekend surge in sleep-disordered breathing may heighten the risk of serious health conditions, according to the research. This includes heart disease, depression, dementia, and extreme fatigue. The research found people under 60 and males were two groups more likely to suffer from social apnoea. While the exact reason is unclear, Eckert said it's likely due to behavioural factors. "We know that men tend to be drinking more alcohol than women and perhaps they're having later nights and going to sleep after women," he said. "We also know that men get sleep apnoea more, so they are more prone to 'social apnoea' in the first place." Eckert said beyond seeking clinical treatment for sleep apnoea, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to combat social apnoea. In particular, going to bed and waking up at consistent times can help establish a healthier sleep pattern. "If people are feeling tired during the day, having some trouble staying asleep, or maybe they are waking up with morning headaches, maybe they're being told that they snore loudly; these are all warning signs that you may have sleep apnoea, and it's worth having a conversation with your GP."
