Breast Cancer, Women, and Alcohol

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can support and donate to a variety of options to fight against breast cancer. There are pink ribbons, lip gloss, blankets, shoes, stickers, t-shirts and more.

The most well known good that you can purchase to fight against breast cancer is alcohol.

Many well meaning organizations are fighting breast cancer with alcohol. There are “drink for pink” and “clink for pink” campaigns. There’s specific wines labeled to support breast cancer research.

A famous Chicagoland steakhouse has offered clever taglines for their breast cancer awareness campaign. Fighting breast cancer, “One cosmo at a time”, offering “Highballs for hope”, or “Brews for Breast Cancer” and “Spritz for Sage”. Cocktails offered for a cure. They are generously donating proceeds of the profit of alcohol sales towards research for breast cancer.

Why is this problematic?

Healthline informs that for decades, researchers have been studying the connection between alcohol use and breast cancer, and a strong body of evidence shows drinking ups the risk. Despite this research only 1 in 4 women are aware that alcohol can contribute to breast cancer.

“Many people, including women, are not aware that breast cancer is the most common cancer caused by alcohol among…