WHO and IARC launch new evidence confirming that strong alcohol policies can prevent cancer

On 14–15 October 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO/Europe) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) launched Volume 20 of the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention at a high-level event in Copenhagen, Denmark, within the scope of the WHO–EU Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION).

The new scientific review provides the strongest evidence to date that effective alcohol policies can substantially reduce cancer risk and related deaths. According to the findings, alcohol consumption is a major cause of at least seven types of cancer, including colorectal, breast and oral cancers, accounting for over 93,000 deaths in the WHO European Region in 2020.

What’s in the IARC Handbooks

The IARC Handbooks identify the most effective policy measures to reduce alcohol consumption and its impact on health. These include higher taxation and minimum pricing, restrictions on availability and marketing, and comprehensive policy packages coordinated across government sectors. Evidence shows that such interventions not only save lives but also generate economic benefits and visible results within just a few years.

WHO and IARC call on governments across Europe to act decisively, translating this evidence into concrete policies that protect public health and reduce the growing cancer burden.

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