Alcohol : manufacturers minimize the risk of cancer

monticello/epictura

Published the 09.09.2017 at 15h51

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Keywords :

alcoollobbyingcancer

The alcohol industry is not the most honest when it comes to speak of the toxicity of the products that it sells. According to a study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, the sector has the tendency to present biased information that underestimates the risks of cancers related to alcohol, such as the tobacco industry has done for decades.

The Swedish study was conducted from the analysis of the content of internet sites and documents from thirty organizations throughout the world that promote the sector alcoolier (lobbies, manufacturers…), often under the guise of producing information on the responsible consumption and moderate. The information in question were issued between September and December 2016.

Content that is misleading

However, according to their observations, 24 of the 26 organizations were producing content is biased and tendentious, which désinformaient on the risk of cancers related to alcohol. Colorectal cancers and breast cancers were the most frequently subject to bias.

The most common approach is to present the relationship link between alcohol and cancer is very complex, with the idea that there is no evidence consistent with a link between the two, even if this link is not a silent question. Other content denying any outright the existence of a link between alcohol and cancer, or claimed that there was no risk associated with moderate consumption – that is false.

Drown the fish

Another technique is to review very many of the risk factors (tobacco, physical inactivity, poor diet…) so as to “drown” the risk factor alcohol among the others and fade away on its severity.

The researchers suggest to legislators and health organizations and the public to reconsider their relationship with these industrial groups, which are impliqés in the implementation of alcohol policies in many countries, and disseminate information to consumers.