Your attitude changes a little to "scare stories" when you actually are recovering from the condition and the treatments. Knowing about things only gives you more choices, if you can't cope with that then by all means bury your head in your pint .. that's your choice.

benn, Reading, UK

Really it's amazing how we've survived for so many thousands of years, with so many things being bad for us. Try telling the people affected by the recent floods in Gloucestershire whose water supplies aren't drinkable yet, that they shouldn't drown their sorrows (no pun intended) with a few glasses of wine or beer! not long ago, red wine was good for the heart, wasn't it? And didn't Jesus turn water into wine? I shall raise a glass or three and drink to the downfall of the scaremongers!

Anne, Charlton Marshall, Dorset

This report helps us to keep fit.Thank you,dear scientist!

Donald, Shanghai, China

Is it worth being born today ? I think these idiots who start these scare monger rumours are just !! pun !! justifying the cushy jobs they have with astronomical wages and funding. Perhaps they would be better employed digging drainage ditches What ! What !

keith, nr ludlow, u.k.

Yes, yes and if we had paid any attention to all the scare stories and peculiar studies in the last 10 years we should all be dead, and if we are all dead we don't need to pay any attention to this either.

RW, Leeds,

I feel I am well informed about the risks of a myriad of consumables, from tap water to LDL cholesterol (with all the government health warnings and legislation, how could I not be?).

What business is of Mr Frank Clough's if I choose to ignore specific warnings? Why should I be compelled to stop damaging my health? Last time I looked, Britain was a free country (despite Labour's best efforts). Don't tell me that people are wasting NHS resources; smokers and drinkers pay many time over what they will consume from NHS in their lifetime.

Does Mr Clough want us all to stick to a strict diet of muesli and be in bed by sunset in a disinfected room every day?

Edwin Thornber, Bucharest,

People are damaging their health with dangerous habits. Even moderate use of alcohol causes cancer, unsuitable foods and lack of excercise cause obesity and heart disease, tobacco causes serious lung disease and cannabis increases the risk of psychosis. It is intolerable that these things are allowed to wreak such devastation upon people and society.

Government is often accused too much interference in personal affairs, but strong government measures with effective laws are needed if people are to be made to stop damaging their health.

Gordon Brown has shown that he is prepared to legislate in order to protect people from bad and dangerous habits. There is much more that needs to be done and hopefully this government will be the one to do it.

Frank Clough, Gothenburg , Sweden

thats justified your dope habit for another year then.compare and contrast on the uglier side of life. enjoy a spliff and a glass of grog. just dont evangalise.

david gwilliam, bristol, uk

I'm glad that the only difference between the study group WAS the amount of alcohol; not diet, age, other fluids drunk, etc. Else, how could Tim Key say that "the research showed a clear link between drinking and cancer".
As Harry from Bristol failed to mention, psychosis levels are the same the world over, regardless of cannabis usage.
I'm becoming very cynical of cod-science and group-think, especially when proffered by governments and NGOs with a political agenda.
Everyone will and does die, let us get on with enjoying life!

AJ, London,

Contrast this with last week's stories about Cannabis increasing risk of Psychosis. That was raising a 1% risk of a non fatal illness from which a majority recover - to 1.4%. This increased risk applies to heavy adolescent users ONLY and ONLY if they have a particular genetic makeup. Nevertheless, that was deemed sufficient to continue its universal illegality and make the penalties even more harsh.

This story is talking about NORMAL levels of alcohol causing a 25% increase in a usually fatal disease which already strikes 5% of the population. Against, in other words, 800 psychotics a year resulting from the ill advised (if you're in the risk group) consumption of cannabis, we're talking about FOUR THOUSAND DEATHS EVERY YEAR caused JUST by Alcohol induced bowel cancer. And that's just in the UK. And you already knew about the thousands of deaths already attributed to Alcohol didn't you.

Yet Alcohol remains both legal and advertisable. What's wrong with this picture? snipurl.com/1oym1

Harry Stottle, Bristol, UK