Alcohol accounts for nearly 1 in 10 deaths in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European Region. A new campaign by the WHO Regional Office for Europe aims to change that.
Alcohol is linked to over 200 diseases, among them at least seven types of cancer, including breast and colon cancers. Alcohol is currently directly responsible for 8.8% – almost 1 in 10 – of total deaths in the European Region. Yet despite these serious health risks and damaging outcomes, less than half of Europeans are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.
As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is worth noting that according to a recent study, only 21% of women across 14 European countries were aware of the connection between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing breast cancer – a risk that starts already with low levels of drinking.
Closing the knowledge and awareness gap
That is why the Regional Office is launching a new regional campaign to close this information gap by sharing the latest research on alcohol’s health impacts and encouraging open discussions about the often-overlooked harms.
“Redefine alcohol” calls on Europeans to reflect on their personal and societal relationships with alcohol, urging a reconsideration of alcohol’s role in daily life, celebrations and traditions.
“Beyond its physical effects, alcohol contributes to wider societal problems, too,” explains Dr Gauden Galea, Strategic Advisor to the WHO Regional Director for Europe and Director of the Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Diseases and Innovation. “Alcohol consumption is a key contributor to violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, road injuries and other forms of harm that affect not only drinkers but their families and communities more widely.
