How World Cancer Research Fund International Wants to Galvanize Governments to Address Alcohol’s Direct Link to Cancer

How World Cancer Research Fund International Wants to Galvanize Governments to Address Alcohol’s Direct Link to Cancer Season 3, Episode 6

For the sixth episode in our third season we discuss how World Cancer Research Fund International wants to galvanize governments to address alcohol’s direct link to cancer.

In today’s episode, we explore the direct link between alcohol and cancer and what to do about it. Together with Kendra Chow from World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRFI) we’re telling a story that might change how you think about the role of alcohol policy in efforts to prevent and reduce cancer deaths.

In this episode, host Maik Dünnbier speaks with Kendra about the brand new Alcohol and Cancer Risk policy position statement of the World Cancer Research Fund International. The position statement outlines recommendations for evidence-based alcohol policies to achieve two major things: reducing population-level alcohol consumption and increasing public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer.

We discuss the reasons why WCRFI developed the policy position statement, the latest evidence on alcohol’s direct link to cancer, the policy recommendations, and the need for action.

We talk about additional considerations in the context of alcohol and cancer, such as language, commercial determinants of health, alcohol industry interference, and no- and low-alcohol products. Kendra also shares personal anecdotes from her life about why cancer prevention interventions are so important, and why public awareness of the risks from health-harming products can impact health outcomes.

Our guest

Kendra Chow is the Policy and Public Affairs Manager with World Cancer Research Fund International.

She is a public health policy specialist and Registered Dietitian. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also has previous experience developing policy interventions for the prevention of non-communicable diseases as a public health dietitian. Kendra’s research experience centres on the commercial determinants of health, health inequities, and impacts of social media on health policy.

Follow Kendra’s work on LinkedIn.

You can read all Kendra’s blogs here.

Resources for the episode

WCRFI has made a number of resources available regarding the direct link between alcohol and cancer, and what to do about it:

• The brand new Alcohol and Cancer Risk policy position statement of the World Cancer Research Fund International
• WCRFI Global Cancer Update Programme.
• Alcohol and cancer – WCRFI’s new global policy priority.
• All blog posts about alcohol and cancer.
• Kendra’s blog posts on a range of topics about cancer prevention and research, including alcohol and commercial determinants of cancer.

Movendi International resources on alcohol and cancer science and policy action:

• 250+ resources article on all Alcohol Issues regarding cancer prevention and science.
• Global Voices blog portal with 20+ opinion articles, column, and essays about alcohol and cancer.
• 70+ science digest articles summarizing latest science on alcohol and cancer and the prevention potential of alcohol policy – including the Yukon study and other studies mentioned in the episode.
• Fact sheet about alcohol and cancer.
• How people can involved: the Be Loud For Change campaign.

Feedback

Your feedback, questions, and suggestions for future topics and guests is most welcome. Please get in touch at: maik.duennbier@movendi.ngo.

You are most welcome to follow Movendi International and Maik Dünnbier on LinkedIn, too.