European Health Alliance on Alcohol statement for the Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Our coalition of health experts and organisations working to reduce the burden of alcohol-related harm across Europe – urges EU policy-makers to introduce mandatory health warnings on alcoholic beverages. These warnings are essential to better inform European citizens about the proven link between alcohol and cancer. The launch of this call follows the publication of the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Handbook on Alcohol Policy and Cancer Prevention, presented earlier this month. 

Breast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Europe. In 2022 alone, around 374,000 women were diagnosed, contributing significantly to the Europe’s overall cancer burden. Alcohol is a known carcinogen and decades of robust science clearly link consumption to at least 7 types of cancer, including breast cancer. Across the EU, alcohol consumption is estimated to cause 239,530 annual deaths, making it a major yet preventable driver of disease and mortality.