Published February 15,2025
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The World Health Organization launched new findings on Friday about an “alarming” lack of knowledge about alcohol’s hyperlink to most cancers throughout Europe and known as for clear and distinguished tobacco-style warnings within the area with the world’s heaviest drinkers.
The international well being company has repeatedly warned that alcohol causes most cancers and has backed clear labelling however has by no means earlier than been as prescriptive in its name for brand spanking new authorities rules.
Earlier this 12 months, the U.S. Surgeon General additionally known as for warnings of most cancers dangers on alcoholic drink labels.
Alcohol causes 800,000 deaths throughout Europe every year however only a fraction of the inhabitants is conscious of the dangers, the WHO’s Europe workplace mentioned. Its examine discovered that simply 15% of respondents knew that alcohol could cause breast most cancers and 39% have been conscious of its hyperlink to colon most cancers.
“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 mentioned.
Relying on self-regulation, because the business would like, brings the danger that alcohol producers use “inconspicuous placement and ambiguous messaging” or use QR codes which are usually ignored by buyers, it mentioned.
Instead, alcoholic drinks ought to show “clear and prominent health warnings” in written format which could possibly be mixed with footage “to maximise reach and empower consumers with clear, accurate information to make informed choices about their health,” it mentioned.
Pictograms and easy text-only messages will be simply as efficient as extra graphic pictures, a spokesperson mentioned when requested in regards to the forms of warnings.
Currently, simply three out of 27 EU nations – France, Lithuania and Germany – have some type of warning labels, the WHO mentioned. Ireland plans broader most cancers warnings on alcoholic drinks from May 2026, it mentioned.
Source: www.anews.com.tr