At the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2026, a session focused on translating clinical evidence into policy to combat alcohol-related harm. Alcohol-related liver disease remains a leading preventable cause of death. Speaker Carina Ferreira-Borges highlighted a gap between evidence and implementation, noting alcohol's wide availability and heavy marketing.
The European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA), now with 28 member organizations, supports policy discussions. The session also backed recent European Parliament support for the term "reduced-alcohol" on wine labels, opposing misleading terms like "low-alcohol." Monica Tiberi of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology noted heavy drinking harms cardiovascular health, though risks at low intake remain uncertain.
WHO data presented showed alcohol caused 2.6 million deaths globally in 2019. The discussion emphasized commercial determinants of health, urging healthcare professionals to counter misinformation and promote evidence-based prevention policies.