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The European Parliament adopted its World Cancer Day resolution on 12 February 2026, but rejected amendments that would have strengthened the wording on alcohol and cancer. A proposal to state that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe” was voted down, with the final text retaining a more cautious reference to WHO and IARC awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer. The vote revealed internal divisions across several political groups.

Up to four in ten cancer cases in Europe could be prevented, according to the newly updated European Code Against Cancer (ECAC). The 2025 version strengthens several recommendations, including a clear new message to avoid alcohol completely, as any amount increases the risk of cancer.

In its sixth Evidence Summary Brief, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) highlights alcohol as a major preventable cause of cancer. Despite growing public health concern, alcohol consumption continues to increase in several world regions, including the Americas, the Western Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa, and South-East Asia. Consumption is currently highest in Europe, where awareness remains low: less than half of people know that alcohol can cause cancer.

A Working Group convened by IARC reviewed evidence on the effectiveness of alcohol policy interventions in reducing population-level alcohol consumption. Sufficient evidence was found for measures such as tax increases, minimum pricing, outlet density and sale time restrictions, marketing bans, and government monopolies. These interventions support WHO's Global Strategy to reduce harmful alcohol use.

Ethanol under EU review: disinfectant risks assessed, while its cancer-causing role in alcohol remains widely accepted.