WHO wants cigarette-style cancer warnings on alcohol bottles

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for cigarette-style cancer warnings on cans and bottles of alcohol owing to their detrimental effects on health.

The UN health body said that governments should standardise “prominent” warnings of alcoholic beverages to sensitize consumers to the risk of cancer at every sip of booze.

WHO’s announcement comes months after Dr Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general under former president Joe Biden, urged alcohol manufacturers to carry similar cancer warnings.

Dr Gauden Galea, a WHO strategic adviser on non-communicable diseases, emphasized that these warnings should be prominently displayed on cans and bottles rather than being limited to websites. He encouraged governments to “resist all the pressures that will inevitably come from commercial actors” attempting to prevent the implementation of such labels.

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Can alcohol cause cancer?

Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer. WHO classifies alcoholic beverages as Group 1 carcinogens, indicating sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.

Regular alcohol intake is associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast.

The risk escalates with the amount of alcohol consumed, but even light to moderate drinking can elevate cancer risk.

Cancer charities welcome move

Meanwhile, cancer charities have hailed WHO’s call for warning labels on alcohol containers saying that such a move will make people aware that it causes at least seven types of cancer.

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Malcolm Clarke, Cancer Research UK’s senior prevention policy manager, said, “We know that alcohol causes seven types of cancer, including two of the most common – breast and bowel. Including warning labels would help raise awareness and encourage people to think about how much they drink.”

World Cancer Research Fund’s Kate Oldridge-Turner said, “Despite the fact that our own evidence shows alcohol is a risk factor for at least seven cancers, it is currently exempt from any mandatory warning labels in most countries. This is of great concern given how few people are aware of the links between alcohol and cancer.”

She added, “Clear, highly visible health warning labels increase consumers’ awareness of the risks associated with drinking, and should be standard in Europe and around the world.”

Ireland to compel producers

Meanwhile, starting in May next year, Ireland will be the first EU country to require alcohol producers to include health warnings on labels, specifically mentioning the risk of cancer.

France and Lithuania already have cancer and pregnancy warning labels on alcohol bottles while Germany has made it mandatory for producers to specify the legal age for drinking.