Prevention of Alcohol-Related Cancers: Book Review of the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention Volumes 20A and 20B

The IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Volumes 20A and 20B, provide an encompassing analysis of scientific evidence on the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of cancer, as well as the public policies towards its reduction. Volume 20A examines epidemiological and mechanistic data that demonstrate that reduction or cessation of alcohol intake decreases the risk of cancer, with enough evidence for the oral cavity and esophagus, limited to the larynx, colorectal, and female breast, and inappropriate for the pharynx and liver. Volume 20B evaluates alcohol policies, including taxation, minimal pricing, availability restrictions, marketing bans, and coordinated policies, concluding that such measures reduce alcohol consumption. Both volumes reinforce that effective cancer prevention requires multi-sectoral collaboration, involving health services, public policies, education, and community engagement. In the Brazilian context, where excessive consumption remains elevated, IARC recommendations provide valuable support to integrate alcohol control strategies into national healthcare policies and reduce the global cancer burden.