The World Health Organization has called for “mandatory and standardised” health warning labels on alcoholic beverages in Europe to raise awareness of the links with cancer.
The UN agency highlighted an “alarming” lack of public awareness regarding alcohol’s link to cancer.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The organisation said a study conducted across 14 European countries found 15% of respondents were aware that alcohol consumption is linked to breast cancer, while 39% recognised its connection to colon cancer.
Breast and colon cancers are the “most prevalent” alcohol-related cancers in the EU affecting women and men respectively, the health organisation said.
Three of the EU’s 27 member states and 13 of the 53 countries classified as part of the WHO’s “European Region” have introduced health warning labels on alcohol, the agency said.
WHO Europe regional director Dr Hans Henri Kluge added: “Clear and prominent health warning labels on alcohol, which include a specific cancer warning are a cornerstone of the right to health, because they empower individuals with vital information to make informed choices about the harm alcoholic products can cause.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“Providing this information does not take anything away from consumers, on the contrary, it arms them with knowledge, and knowledge is power.”
In June, the health agency reported that around 2.6 million annual deaths globally are linked to alcohol consumption.
Last month, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory recommending updates to alcoholic beverage labels to include warnings about the risks of cancer.
According to the WHO, research involving nearly 20,000 participants showed explicit cancer warnings on labels significantly increased awareness and discouraged consumption.
The agency warned relying on industry self-regulation poses risks, arguing producers may opt to use “inconspicuous placement and ambiguous messaging” for on-pack labels or employing QR codes that link to additional health information, which are often ignored by shoppers.
According to the WHO, a pilot study found only 0.26% of shoppers scanned QR codes for health details, reinforcing the need for clear, on-pack labels.
Dr Gauden Galea, a strategic adviser to Dr. Kluge, said alcohol health warning labels would aid “consumers to make informed decisions, raise awareness of alcohol-attributable health risks, can increase public support for alcohol policies, and reduce the overall appeal of alcohol products, ultimately influencing social norms around drinking”.
Just Drinks contacted industry trade body SpiritsEurope and The Portman Group, the self-regulatory body for alcohol labelling, packaging and promotion in the UK, for comment.
“Numerous peer-reviewed publications have shown health warning labels (HWLs) to be rather ineffective in inducing behaviour change, particularly among high-risk drinkers. Given this comparatively weak foundation, imposing HWLs is ultimately a political decision, rather than one based on robust data,” Ulrich Adam, SpiritsEurope’s director general, said.
“Many lifestyle choices carry potential risks and potential benefits, and the consumption of alcohol is no exception. Decades of evidence suggest that for most adults, the risks posed by moderate alcohol consumption are low, but it’s vital to avoid excess – and for some, the best choice may be not to drink at all. We do not recommend that anyone drink to achieve health benefits and urge adults who choose to consume alcoholic beverages to follow the respective low-risk drinking guidelines of their country or consult with a healthcare professional to determine what is best for them.”
In a statement, The Portman Group added: ““Whilst we do not dispute the link between alcohol and cancer, and that drinking at harmful levels is dangerous and increases risks, blanket cancer warning labels are not a proportionate policy measure and do not put the risks into an appropriate context. This can create unnecessary anxiety, eroding trust in health advice and alienating the very people who require support.”
The EU has said lives lost to cancer in the bloc are set to increase by more than 24% by 2035 “unless we take decisive action”. Under the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, the bloc is aiming for “a relative reduction of at least 10% in the harmful use of alcohol by 2025”.
In 2023, Ireland became the first country in the EU to mandate that labels on alcoholic drinks include cancer warnings. The law is set to take effect from May 2026.
2023 also saw the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) issue new guidance, warning no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free and recommended a maximum of two drinks per week.
