WHO urges cancer warning labels on alcohol products similar to cigarettes

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to introduce cigarette-style warning labels on alcohol packaging, highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and cancer.

The global health body argues that such labels should be “prominent” to increase public awareness and help reduce alcohol-related harm.

According to WHO, alcohol is a proven cause of at least seven types of cancer, including breast and bowel cancer - two of the most prevalent forms of the disease. Despite this, alcohol products in most countries remain exempt from mandatory health warnings.

Malcolm Clarke, Senior Prevention Policy Manager at Cancer Research UK, spoke to The Guardian about the importance of this measure, stating, “We know alcohol causes seven types of cancer, yet awareness remains low. Including warning labels would encourage people to reconsider their drinking habits.”

Kate Oldridge-Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the World Cancer Research Fund, echoed these concerns, adding that “Clear, highly visible health warnings should be standard across Europe and the world. The lack of mandatory labels is deeply concerning, given how few people understand the cancer risks associated with alcohol.”

Several countries have already taken steps toward stricter alcohol labeling.

Ireland is set to become the first EU country to enforce mandatory health warnings, including cancer risk information, on alcohol packaging starting in May next year. France and Lithuania already require warnings about alcohol consumption during pregnancy, while Germany mandates age restrictions on labels.

Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, stressed that “clear and visible health warnings are fundamental to the right to health, empowering individuals to make informed choices.” WHO officials have urged governments to resist industry pressure against such measures, arguing that consumer health should take priority.

While public health experts and cancer charities support the WHO’s proposal, alcohol industry representatives argue that mandatory warning labels would be an excessive response that could cause unnecessary alarm.

The Portman Group, a UK-based alcohol industry body, told The Guardian that while the link between alcohol and cancer is acknowledged, “blanket warning labels are not a proportionate policy measure. They risk creating undue anxiety and eroding trust in health advice.”

Dr. Katherine Severi, Chief Executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, dismissed these concerns, highlighting that “a bottle of orange juice or milk requires more detailed labeling than a bottle of wine or vodka. Our lax regulations have long favored alcohol companies over public health.”