WHO calls for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages

(CLO) The World Health Organization (WHO) released the results of a study on Friday, pointing out an "alarming" lack of awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer.

WHO is calling on countries in the region, which has some of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world , to issue clear and prominent warnings about the cancer risks of alcohol, similar to those on tobacco.

According to the WHO, alcohol causes around 800,000 deaths a year in Europe, but only a small proportion of the population is aware of the dangers. Specifically, a new WHO survey found that only 15% of participants knew that alcohol causes breast cancer, and 39% were aware of the link between alcohol and colon cancer.

"Although cancer is the leading cause of alcohol-related death in the European Union, public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer remains very low," said WHO.

Illustration photo: Pexel

The global health agency has repeatedly warned of the cancer risks of alcohol and advocated for warning labels on alcoholic products, but this is the first time the WHO has made such a strong call.

The WHO warns that the alcohol industry can see manufacturers placing labels in "inconspicuous locations and with ambiguous messages", or using QR codes that consumers often overlook.

Instead, WHO recommends that alcoholic drinks should display “clear and prominent health warnings” in the form of text combined with images, which would maximize reach and provide accurate information to consumers so they can make informed decisions about their health.

Currently, only three of the 27 EU member states have such warning labels. Earlier this year, the US Surgeon General also called for cancer warnings to be included on alcohol product labels.

Hoai Phuong (according to WHO, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/who-keu-goi-dan-nhan-canh-bao-ung-thu-tren-do-uong-co-con-post334549.html