Alcohol, cigarettes, and now e-cigarettes are woven into everyday life, not just nights out. The 3sat NANO documentary cuts straight through the comforting idea that “it won’t happen to me.” The numbers are blunt. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer, and around 90 percent of cases are caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains dozens of proven or suspected carcinogens that spread through the body, damage DNA, and overwhelm the immune system’s ability to remove faulty cells. Passive smoking is not a minor side issue either. Because sidestream smoke contains the same substances, often in higher concentrations, it raises the risk of lung cancer and stroke by up to 30 percent for people who do not smoke themselves.

The film also takes a hard look at e-cigarettes, which have become especially popular among younger people. Because no tobacco is burned, they contain fewer carcinogenic substances than conventional cigarettes, but that does not make them harmless. As explained by epidemiologist Ute Mons from the German Cancer Research Center, long-term cancer risks cannot yet be fully assessed because these products are still relatively new. What is already clear is the harm potential, particularly for adolescents whose lungs are still developing. Allergies, asthma, respiratory illnesses, and nicotine dependence are real risks, amplified by sweet flavours, low prices, and the convenience of disposable devices.

Alcohol enjoys even wider social acceptance, yet its health effects are just as serious. Alcohol increases the risk of at least six cancers, mainly through acetaldehyde, a toxic breakdown product that damages DNA, alters hormones such as estrogen, and increases oxidative stress. The documentary makes clear that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, not for cancer and not for the heart either. Even one glass can trigger cardiac arrhythmias. Most concerning is the combination of alcohol and smoking. These risks do not simply add up, they multiply, because alcohol makes tissues more permeable to tobacco toxins. The message from 3sat NANO is unambiguous. Prevention matters, individual choices matter, and so do political measures like pricing, regulation, and clear health warnings. The lever is real, even if we prefer not to look at it.

Find more from 3sat NANO (Germany, February 2026)