In this episode of The Shift, USAPA CEO Mike Marshall explores the hidden link between alcohol and breast cancer—a connection too few people know about. Joined by Stephanie Mencimer, senior reporter at Mother Jones, they unpack Stephanie's personal journey through a breast cancer diagnosis and her groundbreaking 2018 investigation, "Did Drinking Give Me Breast Cancer?" Together, they examine how the alcohol industry has downplayed the science, shaped public perception, and even "pinkwashed" its products in the name of breast cancer awareness.

Guest Bio

Stephanie Mencimer is a staff reporter at Mother Jones. In 2017, Stephanie was diagnosed with breast cancer and while going through treatment wrote, "Did Drinking Give Me Breast Cancer?"

Key Takeaways

✅ Alcohol is a known carcinogen, and evidence linking it to breast cancer has been clear for decades—yet most women are never told this by their doctors.

✅ The alcohol industry has invested heavily in shaping research and public messaging, emphasizing "personal responsibility" and the myth of health benefits while minimizing known risks.

✅ Knowledge is power—as Stephanie's story shows, being informed about alcohol's real risks gives people the freedom to make choices about their health based on truth, not marketing.

Resources & Links

🎙️ Subscribe to this Podcast → https://www.youtube.com/@usalcoholpolicy?sub_confirmation=1

📩 Subscribe to the USAPA Newsletter → https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/ZjD6FbS/usapapodcast

💙 Donate to USAPA → https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3FALCUVKPLLTQ&source=url&ssrt=1703743018896

📄 Transcript of this episode → https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dYhLcZAuuLMyyIITepJD0ryzWvMDR-Cg/view?usp=sharing

📚 Read Stephanie's article "Did Drinking Give Me Breast Cancer?"→ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/04/did-drinking-give-me-breast-cancer/

🔗 Follow USAPA:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-alcohol-policy-alliance/

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TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@usalcoholpolicyalliance

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Facebook https://www.facebook.com/USAlcoholPolicy/

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"Did Drinking Give Me Breast Cancer?"| The Shift | Season 1 Episode 3