Australia has reined in its alcohol guidelines, just ahead of the festive season.

It's dropped the maximum weekly consumption limit to no more than 10 standard drinks a week.

Alcohol Healthwatch here in New Zealand wants to follow suit.

Researcher at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Kate Conigrave told Mike Yardley new evidence points to more cancer-related harm as a result of drinking.

"It's quite common cancers like bowel cancer in men and breast cancer in women."

Conigrave says the evidence suggesting some alcohol is good for you, is misleading.

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