Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of cancer because ethanol is itself a carcinogen on certain parts of the body, scientists have found. Researchers said they found that when ethanol is broken down by the body, it can cause DNA damage that may lead to dangerous changes to the cells. The U.S team from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Maryland, used human cells engineered to produce an enzyme that is found in liver and breast tissue, reports Daily Mail.

Wine connoisseurs quaffing the red stuff for the sake of their heart health should know the myth has been busted. The Alcohol Policy Coalition, made up of Australia’s leading health groups, released a paper today challenging the common belief that red wine helps prevent heart disease. A review of the evidence shows any positive effects of alcohol have been “hugely overestimated”, reports The Herald Sun.

Great Southern winemakers Mike Garland and Andrew Hoadley have been celebrating after winning three prestigious trophies at the Perth Royal Wine Show. Denmark’s Castelli Estate beat a strong field of wines from across Australia after their 2011 vintage Riesling won the Bankwest – WA Wine Press Club Trophy for Best Western Australian Wine, the trophy for Best Western Australian White Table Wine and trophy for Best 2011 Vintage Dry White Table Wine, reports The Albany Weekender.

Gisborne Albarino wine will be available commercially next year, following the first successful vintage this year by local growers Doug and Delwyn Bell. Last year the vines produced a small crop of about half a tonne and a limited number of bottles were produced to test the market. It will be available commercially next year. Since the first planting of two hectares in December 2009 the Bells have planted another two hectares with three clones of the same variety, reports The Gisborne Herald.