The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) has released a new episode of its On the CANSA Couch podcast focusing on a health risk that remains widely underestimated: the link between alcohol and cancer. The episode, titled Alcohol and Cancer: The Link Everyone Should Know, explains that alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is strong scientific evidence that it causes cancer in humans. Yet alcohol remains deeply embedded in celebrations, sporting events and social gatherings, while public awareness of its cancer risks remains limited.

The discussion brings together CANSA’s Kudzai Nyaruve and registered dietitian Megan Pentz-Kluyts with Professor Susan Goldstein, a public health medicine specialist and Managing Director of the SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science, PRICELESS SA. Professor Goldstein explains that alcohol has been recognised as a carcinogen for decades and is associated with several cancers. She also highlights a central public health message: when it comes to cancer risk, there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption, although the risk increases as consumption rises.

The podcast goes beyond individual choices and examines the wider environment that shapes drinking. Professor Goldstein discusses the role of alcohol advertising, sponsorship, availability and social norms in presenting alcohol as an essential part of everyday life. She argues that people are constantly encouraged to drink through marketing linked to sport, celebrations and identity, while the health consequences receive far less attention. The conversation also addresses alcohol-related violence, road injuries, pressure on health services and the particular vulnerability of young people to price, promotion and easy availability.

A strong theme throughout the episode is that awareness alone is not enough. Reducing alcohol-related cancer requires both informed personal choices and effective public policy, including restrictions on advertising, stronger control of availability, taxation and the implementation of evidence-based measures such as the WHO SAFER recommendations. The episode offers an accessible introduction to the science, but also a clear challenge to governments and communities: knowledge about alcohol and cancer must be translated into environments and policies that make healthier choices easier.

Find more from The Cancer Association of South Africa (South Africa, July 2026)