---
title: "WHO calls for tobacco-style cancer warning labels on alcoholic drinks across Europe"
description: "GENEVA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization released new findings on Friday about an \"alarming\" lack of awareness about alcohol's link to cancer across Europe and called for clear and prominent tobacco-style warnings in the region with the world's heaviest drinkers."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Health"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-14-who-calls-for-tobacco-style-cancer-warning-labels-on-alcoholic-drinks-across-europe/"
published: "2025-02-14T12:13:04"
updated: "2025-02-14T12:13:05"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 229
---

# WHO calls for tobacco-style cancer warning labels on alcoholic drinks across Europe

> GENEVA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization released new findings on Friday about an "alarming" lack of awareness about alcohol's link to cancer across Europe and called for clear and prominent tobacco-style warnings in the region with the world's heaviest drinkers.

By Reuters · Published 14 February 2025, 14:13 SAST · Updated 14 February 2025, 14:13 SAST

## Key points
- With alcohol claiming 800,000 lives annually in Europe and only a determined 15% of the populace aware of its cancer connections, the WHO is calling for bold labels to ensure that the only thing getting blurred at the bar is the drink, not the message.
- Alcohol is responsible for 800,000 deaths annually in Europe, yet awareness of its health risks remains low.
- Only 15% of people know alcohol can cause breast cancer; 39% are aware of its link to colon cancer.
- The WHO urges for clear health warnings on alcohol labels, criticizing self-regulation by the industry.
- Currently, only three EU countries implement such labeling, despite calls for stronger regulations from health authorities.

## Content

Alcohol causes 800,000 deaths across Europe each year but just a fraction of the population is aware of the risks, the WHO's Europe office said in a statement, based on a new survey. It found that just 15% of respondents knew that alcohol causes breast cancer and 39% were aware of its link to colon cancer, the statement said.

"Despite cancer being the leading cause of alcohol-attributable deaths in the European Union (EU), public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer remains alarmingly low," the WHO said.

The global health agency has repeatedly warned that [alcohol causes cancer](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3NZ0I5&linkedFromStory=true) and has backed clear labelling but has never before been as prescriptive in its call for new government regulations.

Relying on self-regulation, as the industry would prefer, brings the risk that alcohol producers use "inconspicuous placement and ambiguous messaging" or use QR codes which tend to be ignored by shoppers, the WHO said.

Instead, alcoholic drinks should display "clear and prominent health warnings" in written format which could be combined with pictures "to maximise reach and empower consumers with clear, accurate information to make informed choices about their health," it said.

Currently, just three out of 27 EU countries have such labels, the WHO said. Earlier this year, the U.S. Surgeon General also called for [warnings of cancer risks](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N3NZ0QL&linkedFromStory=true) on drink labels.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Sharon Singleton)