Cancer warning labels on alcohol
Cancer warning labels on alcohol: Mandating what’s missing
This policy brief sets out the case for cancer warning labels on alcohol. It explains how mandatory, clearly designed labels can raise awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer, and help people make informed choices.
Explore the evidence behind alcohol warning labels, what effective labels should include, and the legislation needed to support them. The brief also shares lessons from South Korea and Ireland and recommendations for governments on effective implementation.
September 2026
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See the full list of references:
- IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Alcohol consumption and ethyl carbamate. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2010. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans; No. 96). https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326568
- World Cancer Research Fund; American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous update project expert report 2018: Alcoholic drinks and the risk of cancer. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/global-cancer-update-programme/
- Chow K, et al. Alcohol and cancer policy position London: World Cancer Research Fund; 2024. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/library/alcohol-and-cancer-policy-position/
- World Cancer Research Fund. Cancer Prevention Recommendations. London: World Cancer Research Fund; 2026. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-prevention/our-cancer-prevention-recommendations/
- Espina C, Ritchie D, Riboli E, et al. European Code Against Cancer 5th edition: 14 ways you can help prevent cancer. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2026; 63. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(26)00004-9/fulltext
- World Health Organization. Alcohol health warning labels: a public health perspective for Europe. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2025. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289061681
- World Health Organization. Implementing what works in alcohol policy: progress report on the SAFER initiative. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240120587
- World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/377960
- Ferreira-Borges C, Kokole D, Galea G, et al. Labels warning about alcohol-attributable cancer risks should be mandated urgently. Lancet Public Health. 2025;10:e358-e359. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00040-4/fulltext
- Goulet-Stock S, Stockwell T, O’Brien P, et al. A comparison of labelling requirements for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis across WHO regions and implications for alcohol labelling policy in Canada. Int J Drug Policy. 2026;154:105340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105340
- Zuckermann AME, Morissette K, Boland L, et al. The effects of alcohol container labels on consumption behaviour, knowledge, and support for labelling: a systematic review. Lancet Public Health. 2024;9(7):e481-e494. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00097-5
- Weerasinghe A, Schoueri-Mychasiw N, Vallance K, et al. Improving knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer is associated with consumer support for alcohol policies: findings from a real-world alcohol labelling study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):398. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020398
- Jané-Llopis E, Kokole D, Neufeld M, Hasan OSM, Rehm J. What is the current alcohol labelling practice in the WHO European Region and what are barriers and facilitators to development and implementation of alcohol labelling policy? Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2020. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558550/
- Alcohol Focus Scotland; Alcohol Health Alliance. A clear way forward: the case for better alcohol labelling. 2026. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://ahauk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/A-CLear-Way-Forward-The-Case-for-Better-Alcohol-Labelling-June-2026.pdf
- World Health Organization. Laws and regulations addressing the acceptability, availability and affordability of alcoholic beverages. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240108301
- Cott É, Dunaiceva J, White P, Neely RA, Lesch M. Labelling the debate: a thematic analysis of alcohol industry submissions to the EU consultation on alcohol health warnings in Ireland. Global Health. 2025; 21:34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01126-3
- World Health Organization. The SAFER initiative. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.who.int/initiatives/SAFER
- Correia D, Kokole D, Rehm J, et al. Effect of alcohol health warning labels on knowledge related to the ill effects of alcohol on cancer risk and their public perceptions in 14 European countries: an online survey experiment. Lancet Public Health. 2024; 9(7): e470-e480. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(24)00102-6/fulltext
- Slattery C. Using human rights law to progress alcohol control. Eur J Risk Regul. 2020;12(2):444-459. https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2020.64
- Dong-woo C. Visual warning labels to be mandatory on alcohol products starting Sept. 2026. Yonhap News Agency. 2025 Nov 29. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251129000900320
- Dáil Éireann. Question 2214 – Healthcare policy [45136/25]. 2025 Sep 8. Accessed 10 Aug 2026. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-09-08/2214/
- Kokole D, Correia D, Rehm J, et al. Understanding the early exposure and potential impact of alcohol health warning labels in Ireland: results from a cross-sectional survey. Int J Drug Policy. 2026;156:105443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105443
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