According to the news this morning doctors are asking for warning labels on mouthwash because the alcohol in them causes cancer. Some contain up to 26% alcohol. Why doesn't regular consumption of alcohol do the same?

Maybe it does. But the government gets excise duty from alcohol, so that makes it alright.

So the answer is - for the government to get excise duty on mouthwash, then it will be safe to use again.

It does. There was a study out last year by the Cancer Institute. Here's the media report:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/08/2238459.htm

Quote:

A new study has found drinking just two standard alcoholic drinks a day significantly increases the risks of developing breast, bowel, throat and mouth cancer. The New South Wales Government is releasing the Cancer Institute report, which draws together the results of an international audit of recent cancer research. The report found consuming two alcoholic drinks a day increases a person's risk of mouth cancer by 75 per cent, and women's risk of breast cancer by 22 per cent.

Just as well I don't drink, although there are many other risk factors.

freediver wrote on Jan 11^th, 2009 at 9:13am:

According to the news this morning doctors are asking for warning labels on mouthwash because the alcohol in them causes cancer. Some contain up to 26% alcohol. Why doesn't regular consumption of alcohol do the same?

It's the ice thats the killer FD. ;)

If sure it does but the difference is probably in the 60 sec rince and gargle. With the Chivas, it's down the hatch with a Galway Pipe chaser. It's a good campside pillow and blanket in one.