The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe has launched a new digital platform to help healthcare professionals identify alcohol-related risks and discuss them with patients. Introduced on October 14, 2026, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions Hub brings together practical tools, professional guidance, training materials and an AI assistant. The initiative aims to make conversations about alcohol a normal part of healthcare, rather than something that happens only when a patient has already developed serious alcohol-related problems.
The launch highlights how little many people know about alcohol’s health risks. According to WHO/Europe, only 15% of people surveyed across 14 European Union countries knew that alcohol can cause breast cancer. Among women, awareness was just 21%. WHO estimates that alcohol contributed to approximately 39,200 new breast cancer cases in the European Region in 2020. Despite the established evidence linking alcohol to cancer and numerous other health conditions, drinking is often discussed less frequently during medical appointments than smoking, diet or physical activity.
The new hub offers several ways to address this gap. Healthcare professionals can access the AUDIT screening questionnaire, interactive tools explaining standard drinks, training resources and examples of brief interventions. The platform also includes an AI assistant that uses WHO evidence and implementation materials to help users find information and prepare for conversations with patients. These resources are intended to support practical, non-judgemental discussions about alcohol consumption and the opportunities to reduce related health risks.
The initiative is part of the WHO/EU Evidence into Action Alcohol Project, known as EVID-ACTION, which supports countries in turning alcohol-related research into practical prevention measures. Its central idea is straightforward: healthcare professionals do not need to wait until someone develops alcohol dependence before discussing drinking. By making screening and brief advice part of routine care, health services can help people recognise risks earlier and make informed decisions about their health.
Explore the Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions Hub (October 2026)
