The Truth About Alcohol and Cancer: Reassessing Our Habits
From the casual glass of wine at dinner to the “mommy needs wine” memes plastered across social media, alcohol has become deeply woven into the fabric of American culture—especially for women. But what if the very habits we’re normalizing in our teens and 20s are setting the stage for serious health consequences down the road, including cancer?
Alcohol and Cancer: What the Research Says
The link between alcohol and cancer is no longer up for debate. According to the American Cancer Society, alcohol is a known carcinogen, increasing the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, mouth, throat, and colorectal cancers. For every 10 grams of alcohol consumed daily (roughly one drink), breast cancer risk rises by about 7-10%.
This means that even moderate drinking—just a few glasses a week—can significantly increase your risk, especially if you’re already dealing with other risk factors like genetics or hormone exposure.
The Rise of “Mom Wine Culture”
For many women, alcohol is marketed as both a reward and a release. The rise of “mom wine culture” reinforces the idea that motherhood is so exhausting, we need alcohol just to cope. It’s humorous on the surface, but beneath the jokes lies a dangerous normalization of self-medicating stress with alcohol.
We’re encouraged to sip our way through playdates and unwind with wine after bedtime routines—but how often do we stop to ask: Why am I drinking? And how is this really affecting me?
Habits Today, Health Tomorrow
The patterns we build in our 20s, 30s, and 40s can have ripple effects well into our later years. What starts as a harmless nightly glass of wine can, over time, evolve into dependency—especially when used as a consistent coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or social pressure.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 5.5 million adult women in the U.S. have an alcohol use disorder. In fact, the rate of alcohol-related deaths among women has risen by 85% over the past two decades, outpacing men in terms of growth.
A Moment to Reflect
In our newest Besties with Breasties episode, we open up about our own relationships with alcohol—how it showed up in our lives before and after diagnosis, and how we’ve each reevaluated its place in our journey toward healing and thriving. It’s not about shame or judgment—it’s about curiosity, awareness, and making empowered choices.
You’re Not Alone
At Faith Through Fire, our mission is to reduce fear and anxiety and replace it with hope and a path forward. If you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol, you’re not alone. We’re here to support you—without stigma, without shame.
Together, we can explore healthier ways to cope, connect, and thrive.