The European Heart Network (EHN) is pleased to announce that, as of 11 November 2025, it has officially joined the European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA). The Alliance brings together 23 leading European health organisations to advocate for stronger alcohol policy across Europe. By joining this coalition, EHN strengthens its long-standing commitment to advancing evidence-based policies that reduce alcohol-related harm and raise awareness of alcohol as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
EHN is strongly committed to cross-sectoral collaboration among public health stakeholders when addressing the commercial determinants of health that drive noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), cardiovascular disease in particular. By joining the Alliance, we contribute to a coordinated, evidence-based effort to reduce alcohol-related harm across Europe. — Birgit Beger, CEO, European Heart Network
EHN is strongly committed to cross-sectoral collaboration among public health stakeholders when addressing the commercial determinants of health that drive noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), cardiovascular disease in particular. By joining the Alliance, we contribute to a coordinated, evidence-based effort to reduce alcohol-related harm across Europe.
— Birgit Beger, CEO, European Heart Network
The European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA) was officially launched on 8 May 2025 in Amsterdam during the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress 2025. Its mission is to reduce alcohol’s negative impact on population health, raise awareness about its links to chronic disease, and promote the implementation of effective, evidence-based alcohol policies.
The Alliance highlights the often-overlooked links between alcohol and other harms, including: cardiovascular disease, various cancers, suicide and mental health disorders, sleep disturbances, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and the broader social consequences of alcohol-related harm.
Central to the Alliance’s mission is a strong commitment to protecting children and young people from the harms of alcohol. This includes addressing:
During the 2025 edition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, EHAA called for greater awareness of the breast cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption, as well as for effective policy measures to inform citizens about the link between alcohol and cancer.In a joint statement, the Alliance urged EU policymakers to introduce mandatory health warnings on alcoholic beverages, an essential tool to help inform citizens about the proven link between alcohol and cancer.
#breastcancerawarenessmonth | Association of European Cancer Leagues🍷 To mark the final week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, over 20 health groups have come together with one clear message for policymakers: it’s time to take stronger action against alcohol.
🍷 To mark the final week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, over 20 health groups have come together with one clear message for policymakers: it’s time to take stronger action against alcohol.
EHN advocates for stronger EU action to reduce alcohol-related harm and to build healthier environments across Europe.
In June 2025, EHN published its position paper on the impact of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease (CVD), which challenges persistent myths around “protective effects” of moderate drinking and presents the latest evidence showing that even low levels of alcohol increase the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and stroke.