Overview
Public awareness of the cancer risk posed by alcohol consumption, even
at low levels, is generally low. In 2016 about 80 000 people died of
alcohol-attributable cancer in the European Union (EU). As part of the
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the EU aims to reduce harms due to
alcohol consumption by means of collaboration, coordination and support
from the WHO Regional Office for Europe through the joint WHO/EU
Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION). The project was
formally launched on 6 December 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark, along with
the launch of the third edition of the book Alcohol, no ordinary
commodity. Representatives of 18 Member States of the Region
participated in the hybrid in-person and online event, along with expert
advisors and representatives of the European Commission and WHO. The
aims and objectives of the WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol project
(EVIDACTION) project were introduced, and the research underpinning
the third edition of Alcohol, no ordinary commodity and the report’s
main messages were summarized. The project is co-funded by the European
Union.