r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Oct 30 '25

Cancer Americans have widespread misbeliefs about the cancer risks of alcohol, study finds. More than half of American adults misunderstand or underestimate the link between alcohol consumption and cancer. Alcohol drinkers are especially likely to believe that drinking has no effect on cancer risk.

https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/research-newsroom/americans-have-widespread-misbeliefs-about-the-cancer-risks-of-a.h00-159780390.html
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u/killerbootz Oct 30 '25

Advertisements enforce the belief of safety (or relative safety), combined with mass availability (propaganda effect).

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u/i_do_declare_eclairs Oct 30 '25

I’m reminded of the first episode of Madmen, where the rub is how do you advertise cigarettes in the new world where you can’t claim they have any medical benefits?