The World Health Organization recommends doubling alcohol excise duties in Europe as a means of preventing nearly 5.000 cancer deaths each year.

The increase in excise duties on alcoholic beverages is "one of the best measures" to prevent a "potentially high stroke" of cancer, the WHO European Office said, adding that countries like Russia and Britain would benefit most.

The UN agency said its model projections showed that "approximately 10.700 new cases of cancer and 4.850 alcohol-related deaths could be avoided annually in the European region by doubling excise duties on alcoholic beverages."

This represents about six percent of new cancer and alcohol-related deaths in the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries and territories and includes Russia and several Central Asian countries.

The WHO regional office added that an estimated 180.000 cases and 85.000 deaths each year were "estimated to be caused by alcohol".

According to the WHO, 4,8 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Europe in 2020.