WHO calls for mandatory cancer warnings on alcohol labels in Europe
UK – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for mandatory cancer-related warning labels on alcoholic beverages across Europe, citing the need to raise public awareness about the health risks associated with alcohol consumption
The organization emphasized that clear, visible warnings are essential to inform consumers and reduce alcohol-related harm.
In a statement, WHO stressed that many European countries have yet to make significant progress in implementing alcohol harm reduction policies. It highlighted the role of warning labels in empowering consumers to make informed choices about their alcohol intake.
According to WHO, breast and colon cancers are the most prevalent alcohol-related cancers in the European Union, affecting women and men, respectively.
WHO cited a survey conducted in 14 European countries, which found that only 15 percent of respondents were aware of the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, while 39 percent recognized its connection to colon cancer.
Despite these risks, only three out of 27 EU countries and 13 of the 53 WHO member states in Europe have implemented alcohol health warning labels.
The organization noted that while the alcohol industry generally supports the use of QR codes on packaging to provide health-related details, consumer engagement with such digital labels remains low.
A report cited by WHO found that only 0.26 percent of shoppers in Europe scanned QR codes for health information, highlighting the importance of on-pack labels that are immediately visible to consumers.
Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, reinforced the importance of clear labeling, stating that providing accurate health information is a fundamental right.
“Clear and prominent health warning labels on alcohol, which include a specific cancer warning, are a cornerstone of the right to health. They empower individuals with vital information to make informed choices about the harm alcoholic products can cause,” Kluge said.
The call for updated alcohol warnings extends beyond Europe. In early January, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General urged lawmakers to revise alcohol warning labels to highlight the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption.
The advisory noted that while alcohol use is widespread in the U.S., less than half of adults are aware of its link to cancer.
The report also stated that scientific evidence confirming this connection has strengthened since it was first established in the late 1980s.
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