How alcohol industry organisations mislead the public about alcohol and cancer

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of several types of cancer, including several common cancers. As part of their corporate social responsibility activities, the alcohol industry shares information about alcohol and cancer.

in this article, the authors examined the information that the alcohol industry shares to the public through its ‘social aspects and public relations organizations’ and related bodies.

The aim of the study was to determine the transparency and accuracy of the information shared.

Findings

Most of the organisations were found to share misrepresentations of the evidence about the association between alcohol and cancer. Three main industry strategies were identified:

(i) denial/omission: denying, omitting or disputing the evidence that alcohol consumption increases cancer risk;

(ii) distortion: mentioning cancer, but misrepresenting the risk; and

(iii) distraction: focussing discussion away from the independent effects of alcohol on common cancers. Breast cancer and colorectal cancer appeared to be a particular focus of this misrepresentation.