Alcohol consumption remains a major public health concern, in part due to its well-established role in increasing cancer risk. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcoholic beverages as Group 1 carcinogens, based on sufficient evidence that alcohol causes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast in humans.
The IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention provide comprehensive reviews and consensus evaluations of the evidence on interventions that reduce cancer incidence or mortality. Developed by interdisciplinary working groups of international experts, the IARC Handbooks synthesize diverse evidence streams using rigorous and transparent methodology.
The most recent volumes, Volume 20A and the forthcoming Volume 20B, focus on reduction or cessation of alcoholic beverage consumption for cancer prevention. Together, these volumes support existing evidence that alcohol’s harms are preventable through strong, evidence-based policies.
About the webinar series
To promote and disseminate the key findings from volumes 20A and 20B, WHO/Europe and the IARC are co-hosting a joint webinar series. The series aims to:
- present the IARC, and specifically the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention
- present the main conclusions of Handbooks volumes 20A and the forthcoming 20B
- translate scientific evidence into actionable insights for policy-makers
- build engagement and momentum ahead of the official launch of Volume 20B.
The webinars will present the evidence on alcoholic beverage consumption and cancer risk, on alcohol reduction or cessation to reduce alcohol-related cancer risk, and the 3 major policy levers for reducing alcohol consumption at population level:
- affordability: alcohol taxes and minimum pricing
- availability: restrictions on where, when and to whom alcohol can be sold
- attractiveness: bans/restrictions on alcohol marketing and promotion.
The webinars will also revisit and discuss the existing evidence behind the 3 WHO-recommended “best buys” for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-attributable burden of disease, and explore their specific relevance for cancer prevention.
Format and content
Each session will include expert presentations, interactive discussions and audience Q&A. The webinars are 60 minutes in length and are held in English. Recordings will be available on the WHO/Europe website.
Webinar schedule
Webinar 1: Understanding alcohol and cancer – science and policy (European Week Against Cancer)
27 May 2025, 15:30–16:30 Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Webinar 2: Tax and price policies – the economic approach to reducing alcohol harm
18 June 2025, 15:00–16:00 CEST
Webinar 3: Availability policies – regulating access to reduce consumption
3 September 2025, 10:00–11:00 CEST
Webinar 4: Marketing bans – the role of advertising in alcohol consumption
24 September 2025, 15:00–16:00 CEST
Target audience
The webinar series is primarily aimed at policy-makers; public health professionals; prevention specialists; health-care providers; representatives of civil society organizations; youth advocates; researchers, including early career researchers; and academics.
The series is part of the WHO–European Union (EU) Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION) funded by the European Commission. EVID-ACTION’s objective is to use scientific evidence to promote and facilitate the implementation of effective alcohol policies in the EU, Iceland, Norway and Ukraine.
Registration
All webinars are free to attend. Registration in advance is required and can be completed using the registration links.