On 17 September 2024, WHO/Europe and the NCD Alliance will host a pivotal session, “Alcohol and cancer – inspiring collaborations for the future”, at the World Cancer Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. The session will explore the critical link between alcohol and cancer, with a special focus on breast cancer. The event is open to all participants of the Congress.
The objective of this session is to lay the foundations for a network of partners dedicated to fostering environments conducive to combating alcohol-related cancers. The immediate focus of the session will be to stimulate discussion among participants on how to use the latest data on the link between alcohol and cancer, particularly breast cancer, what can be asked of policy-makers, and how best to work together to reduce cancer incidence worldwide.
Through storytelling and the presentation of innovative campaigns, it aims to inspire collaborative efforts between national cancer societies and allies to promote the creation of environments that support the control of alcohol-related cancers. The session should result in a joint agreement between these stakeholders to pool their expertise and knowledge to advocate for the prevention of alcohol-related cancer risks.
Collaboration is paramount, especially given recent findings underscoring the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. With alcohol-related cancers on the rise and public awareness lagging, it is imperative to implement interventions targeting both population-wide consumption and individual drinking habits to prevent these cancers effectively.
The event is part of the WHO/European Union Evidence into Action Alcohol project (EVID-ACTION), which contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.