Alcohol and breast cancer

There’s a direct link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer.¹

In Australia, 5.8% of breast cancer diagnoses are attributable to alcohol.²

But, many people just don’t know the link.

An Australian breast screening service found only 20% of women knew that alcohol was a risk factor for breast cancer.³

And only 1 in 5 people attending a breast screening service in the UK knew about the risk.⁴ While in the US, awareness that alcohol is a cancer risk factor is lowest for breast cancer.⁵

Alcohol is also a significant risk factor for seven other types of cancer.

Even though alcohol is the most used drug in Australia, only half of Australians are aware drinking can cause cancer.^6,7

Breast cancer in Australia

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australia for females.⁸

An estimated 21,000 people assigned female at birth and 194 people assigned male at birth will be diagnosed in 2024.

Every year, we’re understanding more about the risk factors for cancer.

These risk factors can include:

• family history and genetics
• personal factors (such as age, height and breast density)
• reproductive factors
• lifestyle (including level of drinking)
• medical history (previous experience of cancer, certain treatments, and medications)
• environmental factors.⁹

Regular drinking increases the risk of breast cancer, with each standard drink you drink per day increasing your risk by up to nine per cent. The risk does not change depending on the type of alcohol you drink.¹⁰

While alcohol is not the cause of every breast cancer, reducing your alcohol use is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer.¹⁰

Why aren’t more people aware of the link between alcohol and cancer?

Conflicting messages in the media can confuse people when it comes to understanding alcohol’s impact on health.¹¹

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of prevention and research into breast cancer.

The iconic pink ribbon, and colour pink, are widely used in campaigns, such as:

• Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon campaign
• McGrath Foundation’s Pink is the Colour
• Breast Cancer Network Australia’s Pink Sports Day.

For many, the pink ribbon symbolises support and solidarity, hope for a cure, and healthy living.

But the colour pink, and pink ribbons, are also misleadingly used by companies that sell products linked to cancer.¹²

Alcohol industry companies do this by:

• adding the pink ribbon, or the colour pink, to products and advertisements
• selling breast cancer awareness merchandise
• partnering with breast cancer charities
• pledging an amount per product sold towards breast cancer charities.

Because the famous pink ribbon isn’t ‘owned’ or regulated, any company can use it - even if they make or sell cancer causing products.¹²

This kind of marketing (called pink-washing) is harmful because it:

• promotes cancer causing products
• exploits customers’ goodwill
• spreads misinformation about breast cancer risk factors
• is unsettling and frustrating for those directly affected by breast cancer.¹³

In the US, adults who viewed pinkwashed beer ads believed the beer was healthier and the brand was more socially responsible, in comparison to beers advertised in standard ads.¹⁴

After being made aware of the link between alcohol and breast cancer, people were more likely to view pinkwashed ads as misleading. They were also more likely to support alcohol breast cancer warnings on alcohol products.¹⁴

Campaigns like Pink is not the problem and Think Before You Pink have called out the industries that use pink-washing to promote products linked to cancer. These campaigns encourage consumers to think critically before they buy.

How to be breast aware

A breast screen is the best way to detect breast cancer early, and also improve treatment outcomes.¹⁵ Those aged 50 and over can have their free breast cancer screening every two years.

If you’re under 50 and concerned about breast cancer, you can still get screened – just talk to your doctor.

For more information, visit the Cancer Council’s page on breast cancer screening.

If you’re trans or gender diverse, you can speak with your doctor to find out if breast screening might be beneficial for you.

Although breast cancer mostly affects those 50 and over, around three women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.¹⁶

Check out this Cancer Australia article on how to be breast aware – you don’t need to be an expert to check for signs.

More info

• For more information about alcohol and breast cancer, see FARE’s Alcohol and breast cancer fact sheet
• To find a breast cancer support group or service, visit the Cancer Council's support group page or Breast Cancer Network Australia.