Alcohol-related cancers and prevention

Cancers caused by alcohol in Europe

Alcohol consumption is estimated to be an attributable factor for more than 244 000 cases of cancer in Europe each year. Interventions to reduce alcohol consumption would also provide substantial benefits in terms of reduced morbidity and mortality from, among others, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and accidental injuries. This figure shows the proportions of all cancers and the numbers of cancers that could be prevented by alcohol control in Europe.

Proportions of all cancers and numbers of cancers that could be prevented by alcohol control in Europe

The 7.1% of all cancer cases in Europe that are attributable to alcohol consist predominantly of cancers of the breast, colorectum, and lip, oral cavity, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, but also include cancers of the oesophagus (squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC), larynx, and liver.


Infographics produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK

Europe summary

Infographics produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK

Country summaries

The charts show, for each country in Europe, the overall percentage of cancers at all specified sites that are attributable to alcohol consumption (the population attributable fraction, or PAF). The PAF uses information on the risks of alcohol consumption, the prevalence of alcohol consumption, and the incidence of cancer in each country to calculate the proportion of cancers that could be prevented by alcohol control. Adjacent to each country name is the estimated number of new cases this represents for 2012.


Infographics produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK

To download the A4 poster, click here.

Sources

Thank you to Alice Cotelli and Jon Shelton of Cancer Research UK for designing and producing the figures.

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