Cancer Council NSW has long advocated for energy labelling on alcoholic drinks. This would help people see how many kilojoules they're consuming when they drink alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks are high in energy, and this can contribute to weight gain. Excess weight is linked to 13 different types of cancers, while alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx, oesophagus, breast, bowel and liver cancers.
In August 2025, energy labelling became mandatory for packaged alcoholic drinks. While alcohol companies have three years to comply, most alcoholic beverages will need to display an energy statement or Nutrition Information Panel. The energy statement will include energy content per serving, energy content per 100mL, number of servings per package, the serving size and number of standard drinks per serving.
These changes will help people be better informed about the kilojoules in alcoholic drinks. But the evidence is clear: there is no safe level of alcohol use, and the more you drink, the greater your cancer risk.
If you choose to drink, we recommend you follow the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines:
- Healthy adults should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day to reduce the risk of alcohol-related disease or injury. The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol
- Children and people under 18 years should not drink alcohol to reduce the risk of injury and other harms to health
- To prevent harm from alcohol to their unborn child, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should not drink alcohol. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for their baby.
Learn more about the link between cancer and alcohol.
