WHO is calling on countries in the region, which has some of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world, to issue clear and prominent warnings about the cancer risks of alcohol, similar to those issued for tobacco.

According to the WHO, alcohol causes around 800,000 deaths a year in Europe, but only a small proportion of the population is aware of the dangers. Specifically, a new WHO survey found that only 15% of respondents knew that alcohol causes breast cancer, and 39% were aware of the link between alcohol and colon cancer.

“Although cancer is the leading cause of alcohol-related death in the European Union, public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer remains very low,” says WHO.

The global health agency has repeatedly warned about the cancer risks of alcohol and advocated for warning labels on alcoholic products, but this is the first time the WHO has made such a strong call.

The WHO warns that the alcohol industry can be prone to manufacturers placing labels in “inconspicuous locations and with ambiguous messages”, or using QR codes that consumers often overlook.

Instead, WHO recommends that alcoholic drinks display “clear and prominent health warnings” in the form of text combined with images, which maximizes reach and provides accurate information to consumers so they can make informed decisions about their health.

Currently, only three of the 27 EU member states have such warning labels. Earlier this year, the US Surgeon General also called for cancer warnings to be included on alcohol labels.

Hoai Phuong (according to WHO, Reuters)