Supporting the World Cancer Day
4th of February marks the World Cancer Day, this disease is the leading cause of death in several European countries, it is can be predicted that with demographic changes it recurrence will only intensify in the coming months.
Eurocare strongly supports the World Cancer Day, and encourages all parties to raise awareness about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer development.
First conclusive links between alcohol and cancer were established back in 1987. Nearly 25 years later public awareness about the links is alarmingly low. The 2010 Eurobarometer report found that 1 in 5 European citizens do not believe that there is connection between alcohol and caner and 1 in 10 do not know about the link between alcohol and cancer.
Alcohol beverages and ethanol in alcohol beverages is group 1 carcinogenic, the cancer they impact on are cancer of oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and breast.
Eurocare is advocating for health warning labels as one of the tools to cost- effectively raise awareness about the impact that alcohol consumption may have on developing cancer.
In the EU only France has a compulsory health warning label, it is a health warning regarding drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Similar pictorial warnings or text warnings could be introduced throughout Europe in order to warn about the side effects of alcohol consumption.
In December 2010 Eurocare had the pleasure to present its position at the MEPs Against Cancer meeting in the European Parliament. To find out more about this meeting please visit the organiser's website: www.europeancancerleagues.eu
For more information on Eurocare activities regarding health warning labels please see:
- Eurocare preliminary library of health warning labels, click here
- Eurocare overview of labelling initiatives, click here
- Eurocare press release for World Cancer Day 2011, click here