There is considerable epidemiologic evidence that drinking alcoholic beverages is associated with an

increased risk for certain cancers (i.e. cancers of the upper-aero digestive tract) though the evidence of

an increased risk for colorectal and breast cancer is controversial. For other cancers (e.g. kidney,

bladder, lung, ovarian) the evidence remains inconclusive. Considering the high prevalence of many

of these cancers in Scotland, even a small increase in cancer risk is of great importance, therefore

from a public health perspective it is important that the evidence linking alcohol to an increased risk

of cancer is continuously evaluated. Questions still remain, however, concerning the robustness and

consistency of the alcohol information collected across studies. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of

drinking levels, drinking patterns, and definitions of standard drinks internationally make it

problematic to generalise the findings of these studies.