A possible link between alcohol abuse and breast cancer has been discovered by scientists.

Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, held in tandem with the Experimental Biology 2012 conference in San Diego, the study suggested protein may explain the long-established association between consumption and the disease.

Maria de Lourdes Rodriguez-Fragoso, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos in Mexico, explained various mechanisms are used in cells to remove toxic substances, such as ethanol.

“Unfortunately, sometimes these mechanisms produce other toxic substances, including some that are associated with the development of different types of cancer,” Professor Rodriguez-Fragoso observed.

The team believe a protein called CYP2E1 is the direct link between alcohol abuse and breast cancer, as this might break down ethanol and therefore produce reactive ‘free radical’ chemicals.

Females who naturally express higher levels of the protein and also imbibe could be at greater risk of developing the condition than those with less CYP2E1.

The portrayal of alcohol use in Bollywood films is influencing the drinking habits of Indian youngsters, new research has found.

To be presented at the World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai – organised by the World Heart Federation – the study showed students exposed to imbibing on the big screen are 2.78 times more likely to have tasted beer or wine themselves.

Dr G Nazar of Health Related Information Dissemination Against Youth – a voluntary organisation of health professionals formed in 1992 – said: “These results show that exposure to alcohol use depictions in Bollywood films is directly associated with alcohol use among young people in India.”

The expert pointed out that while advertisements promoting drinking are outlawed in the nation, there are no rules prohibiting the depiction of intake in Bollywood movies.

According to the research, adolescents remained 1.49 times more likely to drink after watching these films even when adjustments for demographic variables were taken into account.

By targeting the perceived pleasurable effects of drinking, researchers believe alcohol abuse in US colleges could be reduced.

According to a study published online by the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, these ‘alcohol expectancy challenges’ – which see groups unknowingly given both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in a bar setting – have the ability to reduce the quantity and frequency of binge drinking among youngsters.

Investigators looked at the pleasurable side-effects of imbibing that people often associate with beer and wine, such as becoming more outgoing and a loosening of inhibitions.

Lori Scott-Sheldon of The Miriam Hospital’s Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, who led the study, said: “If we can prove to students that many of the perceived positive side effects of alcohol are actually due to their expectations … then we could potentially reduce frequent binge drinking.”

Ms Scott-Sheldon explained excessive alcohol use can be influenced by what individuals believe will happen to them when drunk – but suggested these consequences have less to do with the beverages themselves and more to do with peoples’ own choices of action.

Individuals reaching their 30s can feel psychological underdevelopment if they continue indulging in excessivealcohol use.

This is the suggestion of new research from the University of Missouri, which found that while drinking too much in their early 20s does not result in a personal sense of immaturity, the same cannot be said when they enter their third decade of life.

According to the study, substance abuse intervention programmes might therefore be improved through giving young adults extra assistance as they realise their need to reduce consumption.

Rachel Winograd, a doctoral student in psychology at the learning institute – which was founded in 1839 and is commonly referred to as Mizzou – said the findings could help heavy-drinking 30-year-olds acknowledge their need to cut back alcohol dependence in order to feel more mature.

Ms Winograd stated: “People in their early 20s who accept their own heavy drinking and experience alcohol-related consequences may not realise that these behaviours can be associated with identity issues later on.”

Memory functioning could be disrupted by through alcohol dependence, new research has suggested.

Published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, the study found alcoholics might suffer from impaired associative memory.

As such, individuals who drink heavily on a regular basis may find it difficult to associate names and faces.

Edith Sullivan, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, noted alcoholism does not impact on all memory systems, of which there are several, but explained: “Chronic alcohol consumption mainly affects episodic memory and working memory.”

The authors observed the day-to-day functioning of somebody who imbibes frequently can be disrupted considerably when their ability to recall is impaired, such as a worker with a high cognitive load finding it increasingly difficult to learn new tasks.

Moreover, home life might also be affected, with disorders leading to conflicts as a result of them being misunderstood as a sign of disinterest in family affairs.

A high number of partygoers have been arrested at Coachella Music and Arts Festival in California, US for charges related to alcohol abuse.

According to Benjamin Guitron, department spokesman for the Indio police, 99 individuals had been taken in by officers by Sunday (April 15th) afternoon, with 98 of these concerning drink and drug offences, the San Bernardino Sun reports.

Mr Guitron explained alcohol use accounted for around 60 per cent of instances through Saturday morning and 80 per cent of those on Saturday night.

He observed this level was higher than that recorded in previous years, adding: “We don’t know why – we’ve been doing this for over a decade and it’s not any different as far as how we’re handling it.”

Temperatures rose significantly on the Sunday of the celebration – headlined this year by The Black Keys and Radiohead – and led to authorities recommending festival goers take on plenty of water, not alcoholic beverages, in order to stay hydrated.

Individuals with alcohol problems may be at greater risk of being involved in a house fire, as new figures have shown drink and drugs contributed to many such incidents in Scotland across 2011.

According to the Chief Fire Officers Association’s (CFOA’s) Fire Statistics Scotland 2010-11 report, 835 blazes began in homes last year as a result of people imbibing or taking drugs, with 11 deaths and 248 injuries recorded.

The CFOA noted the likelihood of an accidental fire starting rises significantly when just a few glasses of wine or beer are consumed – and is urging homeowners to be extra cautious as the evenings grow longer and the weather improves.

David Dalziel, chairman of the organisation – which became a registered charity in 1999 – said: “Regretfully, alcohol consumption still plays a major part in influencing people’s behaviours and their ability to respond.”

Mr Dalziel added alcohol use - and even moderate consumption – can markedly impact a person’s capacity to escape from a burning building.

Imogen Thomas has opened up about her alcohol use after claiming the furore surrounding her private life drove her to drink.

The model and former reality television star told the Sun that she used antidepressants and alcohol in order to help her cope with the extra media attention.

Thomas was thrust into the limelight when allegations surfaced of a relationship between her and married Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs.

She said: “I’d drink a bottle of wine a night, more if there was another bottle there. Sometimes I’d start off in the day.”

Thomas – who once appeared on popular TV series Big Brother – explained she reached for drink as she wanted to make herself feel different, but noted imbibing often led to tears, meaning she did not want to venture out for fear she may be attacked.

The Welsh celebrity admitted she wanted to kill herself, but said she would not commit suicide because of the effect it might have on her family.