Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to share with you the launch of a new webinar series on alcohol reduction and cancer prevention, co-hosted by WHO/Europe and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The series will run from 27 May to 24 September 2025 and is open to all.
The webinars are based on findings from the latest volumes of the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, which focus on alcohol and its links to cancer—and more importantly, on what can be done to reduce these risks through strong, evidence-based policies.
The sessions will:
- Present the main conclusions from IARC Handbooks Volumes 20A and 20B
- Translate evidence into actionable policy guidance
- Explore the three major policy levers for reducing alcohol consumption:
- Affordability – taxes and minimum unit pricing
- Availability – where, when, and to whom alcohol is sold
- Attractiveness – marketing and promotion restrictions
- Revisit the WHO-recommended “Best Buys” in the context of cancer prevention
First up: save the date!
Webinar 1: Understanding alcohol and cancer – science and policy
27 May 2025 | 15:30–16:30 CEST
We’ll review the scientific evidence linking alcohol to cancer, discuss the rationale for policy action, and explore how the IARC Handbooks support real-world strategies.
[Registration link]
You can read more on the event series in Webinar series: Reduction of alcohol consumption and cancer prevention: what can we learn from the new handbooks from the International Agency for Research on Cancer? and in the attached flyer.
We would be very grateful if you could help us share this invitation within your networks. This is a key opportunity to connect evidence with policy—and make meaningful progress in cancer prevention.
Kind regards,
Francisca Pulido Valente
Consultant
Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Prison Health
Special Initiative on NCDs and Innovation,
WHO Regional Office for Europe | www.who.int/europe
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Prison health: https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/prisons-and-health
Alcohol/EVID-Action: WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol project (EVID-ACTION)
