The True Cost of Alcohol - By SAAPA

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The True Cost of Alcohol - By SAAPA The True Cost of Alcohol is a national civil-society campaign to save lives, reduce harm and restore dignity through targeted alcohol tax reform. Reduce harm.

Save lives. Increase excise tax on alcohol.

A diagnosis is never a reason for blame. Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we've shared research highlighting th...
23/10/2026

A diagnosis is never a reason for blame. Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we've shared research highlighting the relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. But there's an equally important message we want to emphasise: understanding risk factors should never become an opportunity to blame those affected. Breast cancer is a complex disease influenced by multiple factors, some within our control and others beyond it. No single risk factor explains every diagnosis.

Our goal at the True Cost of Alcohol is to raise awareness about alcohol-related harms and support evidence-based prevention, while recognising the experiences of individuals and families affected by breast cancer. To everyone who has shared their story, whether as a survivor, someone undergoing treatment or someone who has lost a loved one, thank you for contributing to this important conversation.

Awareness should empower, not judge. 🎀💗

🎀 Can alcohol policy play a role in cancer prevention? Absolutely.Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we've explor...
22/10/2026

🎀 Can alcohol policy play a role in cancer prevention? Absolutely.

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we've explored the link between alcohol and cancer. But understanding the risks is only the beginning. What can we do to reduce them?

Prevention goes beyond individual choices.

Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) shows that stronger alcohol policies, including increased excise taxes, marketing restrictions and regulated availability, can reduce alcohol consumption and related harms.

“No, thank you” should always be enough.Whether someone chooses not to drink for health reasons, recovery, religious bel...
21/10/2026

“No, thank you” should always be enough.

Whether someone chooses not to drink for health reasons, recovery, religious beliefs or simply personal preference, that decision deserves to be respected.

Too often, alcohol is treated as an expectation at social gatherings, leaving those who choose not to drink feeling pressured to explain themselves.

Creating healthier, more supportive communities means making room for everyone's choices. That includes offering appealing alcohol-free options, challenging drinking-related peer pressure and recognising that enjoying yourself doesn't have to involve alcohol.

🎀 This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're reminding everyone that supporting healthier choices is also part of building a culture of prevention.

🎀 MYTH vs FACT: Is cancer risk from alcohol only a concern for heavy drinkers?Not quite! Research shows that even relati...
20/10/2026

🎀 MYTH vs FACT: Is cancer risk from alcohol only a concern for heavy drinkers?

Not quite! Research shows that even relatively low levels of alcohol consumption can increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.

A major analysis of 53 studies found that breast cancer risk increased by approximately 7% for every additional 10 grams of alcohol consumed daily.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're challenging misconceptions and sharing the facts, because awareness starts with understanding. 💗

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12439712/

Awareness is only the beginning. Understanding can make a difference 🎀Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to...
19/10/2026

Awareness is only the beginning. Understanding can make a difference 🎀

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to have conversations that go beyond awareness and encourage meaningful action towards prevention, early detection and better access to care.

While advances in research and treatment have improved our understanding of breast cancer, many people still face barriers to accessing reliable health information, screening and timely medical support.

An important part of these conversations is recognising that breast cancer has multiple risk factors, including alcohol consumption. Although not every case can be prevented, understanding the risks can help individuals and communities make informed decisions about their health.

At the True Cost of Alcohol, we believe that protecting public health should not rest on individual responsibility alone. It also requires supportive communities, accessible healthcare and evidence-based policies that reduce preventable harm.

💗 This October, let's move beyond simply raising awareness towards creating environments where people are informed, supported and empowered to seek the care they need.

Because awareness matters most when it leads to action.

Yes, you read right, alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen.But what exactly does that mean?A Group 1 carcinogen ...
16/10/2026

Yes, you read right, alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen.

But what exactly does that mean?

A Group 1 carcinogen is a substance or exposure for which there is sufficient scientific evidence that it causes cancer in humans. This is the highest classification used by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization.

Alcohol received this classification following extensive scientific research examining the relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer. In 1988, IARC classified alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans after reviewing evidence linking alcohol consumption to several cancers. Subsequent research further established its role in causing breast and colorectal cancers.

Scientists have also identified biological processes that help explain this relationship. When the body breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that can damage DNA. Alcohol can also increase oestrogen levels, which can contribute to the development of certain breast cancers.

Importantly, Group 1 refers to the strength of the scientific evidence, not how dangerous a substance is compared with other carcinogens.

💗 So, what does this mean for Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Awareness goes beyond recognising symptoms and encouraging early detection. It also means understanding the factors that increase breast cancer risk, including alcohol consumption, even at relatively low levels.

This October, we're going beyond the pink ribbon to raise awareness about the connection between alcohol and breast cancer, because informed communities are better equipped to support prevention.

Did you know that alcohol consumption can increase your risk of breast cancer?It's a scientifically established connecti...
14/10/2026

Did you know that alcohol consumption can increase your risk of breast cancer?

It's a scientifically established connection, yet one that many people remain unaware of. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're highlighting the link between alcohol and breast cancer, because understanding the risks is an important part of prevention.

The more we know, the better equipped we are to protect our health and support healthier communities. Swipe to discover what the science says about alcohol and breast cancer. Know the risks. Share the facts. Support prevention.

Almost 100,000 breast cancer cases worldwide were linked to alcohol consumption in 2020. According to research by the In...
14/10/2026

Almost 100,000 breast cancer cases worldwide were linked to alcohol consumption in 2020. According to research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), alcohol consumption was responsible for an estimated 100,000 breast cancer cases globally in 2020.

This is a significant reminder that alcohol harm extends beyond the consequences we commonly associate with drinking. Alcohol is also an established risk factor for several cancers, including breast cancer, even at relatively low levels of consumption. Yet the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer remains an often-overlooked part of public health conversations.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're going beyond the pink ribbon to raise awareness about preventable risk factors and the importance of evidence-based alcohol policies.

Because prevention should not rest on individual choices alone. It requires accessible health information, supportive communities and stronger policies that prioritise public health.

Awareness is important. Prevention is powerful.

Source: Rumgay et al. (2021), The Lancet Oncology - Global estimates for 2020.

Can a glass of w**e increase your risk of breast cancer? The answer is yes, and the evidence is clear.Alcohol consumptio...
13/10/2026

Can a glass of w**e increase your risk of breast cancer? The answer is yes, and the evidence is clear.

Alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for breast cancer, even at relatively low levels of drinking. Whether it's w**e, b**r or spirits, all alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which increases cancer risk.

Research has shown that breast cancer risk increases by approximately 7% for every additional 10 grams of alcohol consumed daily. Globally, nearly 100,000 breast cancer cases in 2020 were attributed to alcohol consumption. Yet the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer is often overlooked in conversations about prevention and public health.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're going beyond the pink ribbon to highlight the importance of accessible health information, greater public awareness and stronger alcohol policies that protect our communities.

Awareness is important, but meaningful prevention requires more than individual choices. It requires collective action and policies that put people's health before profit.

Swipe through to learn more about the science behind alcohol and breast cancer. Share this post and help spread awareness.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 🎀This month, we join communities across South Africa in raising awareness abou...
12/10/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 🎀

This month, we join communities across South Africa in raising awareness about breast cancer, supporting those affected and encouraging conversations about prevention, early detection and access to care.

An important part of awareness is understanding the factors that can increase breast cancer risk, including alcohol consumption. Research has established that alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer, yet this connection remains an important public health message that deserves greater attention.

Throughout October, we'll be sharing information about the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer, highlighting the importance of informed choices and advocating for stronger public health policies that protect our communities. Because awareness goes beyond the pink ribbon. It is also about ensuring that people have the information and support they need to protect their health.

Together, let's turn awareness into understanding and understanding into action.

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