Erin Hobin1, Kate Vallance2, Fei Zuo1, Tim Stockwell2, Laura Rosella3, Alice Simniceanu1, Christine White4, David Hammond4. 1. Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, 480 University Ave., Suite 300, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V2. 2. Centre for Addictions Research of BC, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, Canada V8Y 2E4. 3. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada. 4. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1.
Abstract
AIMS: Despite the introduction of national drinking guidelines in Canada, there is limited public knowledge of them and low understanding of 'standard drinks (SDs)' which limits the likelihood of guidelines affecting drinking behaviour. This study tests the efficacy of alcohol labels with SD information and Canada's Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDGs) as compared to %ABV labels on consumers' ability to estimate alcohol intake. It also examines the label size and format that best supports adults' ability to make informed drinking choices. METHODS: This research consisted of a between-groups experiment (n = 2016) in which participants each viewed one of six labels. Using an online survey, participants viewed an alcohol label and were asked to estimate: (a) the amount in a SD; (b) the number of SDs in an alcohol container and (c) the number of SDs to consume to reach the recommended daily limit in Canada's LRDG. RESULTS: Results indicated that labels with SD and LRDG information facilitated more accurate estimates of alcohol consumption and awareness of safer drinking limits across different beverage types (12.6% to 58.9% increase in accuracy), and labels were strongly supported among the majority (66.2%) of participants. CONCLUSION: Labels with SD and LRDG information constitute a more efficacious means of supporting accurate estimates of alcohol consumption than %ABV labels, and provide evidence to inform potential changes to alcohol labelling regulations. Further research testing labels in real-world settings is needed. SHORT SUMMARY: Results indicate that the introduction of enhanced alcohol labels combining standard drink information and national drinking guidelines may be an effective way to improve drinkers' ability to accurately assess alcohol consumption and monitor intake relative to guidelines. Overall support for enhanced labels suggests probable acceptability of introduction at a population level.
AIMS: Despite the introduction of national drinking guidelines in Canada, there is limited public knowledge of them and low understanding of 'standard drinks (SDs)' which limits the likelihood of guidelines affecting drinking behaviour. This study tests the efficacy of alcohol labels with SD information and Canada's Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDGs) as compared to %ABV labels on consumers' ability to estimate alcohol intake. It also examines the label size and format that best supports adults' ability to make informed drinking choices. METHODS: This research consisted of a between-groups experiment (n = 2016) in which participants each viewed one of six labels. Using an online survey, participants viewed an alcohol label and were asked to estimate: (a) the amount in a SD; (b) the number of SDs in an alcohol container and (c) the number of SDs to consume to reach the recommended daily limit in Canada's LRDG. RESULTS: Results indicated that labels with SD and LRDG information facilitated more accurate estimates of alcohol consumption and awareness of safer drinking limits across different beverage types (12.6% to 58.9% increase in accuracy), and labels were strongly supported among the majority (66.2%) of participants. CONCLUSION: Labels with SD and LRDG information constitute a more efficacious means of supporting accurate estimates of alcohol consumption than %ABV labels, and provide evidence to inform potential changes to alcohol labelling regulations. Further research testing labels in real-world settings is needed. SHORT SUMMARY: Results indicate that the introduction of enhanced alcohol labels combining standard drink information and national drinking guidelines may be an effective way to improve drinkers' ability to accurately assess alcohol consumption and monitor intake relative to guidelines. Overall support for enhanced labels suggests probable acceptability of introduction at a population level.
Authors: Erin Hobin; Simran Shokar; Kate Vallance; David Hammond; Jonathan McGavock; Thomas K Greenfield; Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Catherine Paradis; Tim Stockwell Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2020-05-26
Authors: Megan Kirouac; Eric Kruger; Adam D Wilson; Kevin A Hallgren; Katie Witkiewitz Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2019-03-14 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Erin Hobin; Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Ashini Weerasinghe; Kate Vallance; David Hammond; Thomas K Greenfield; Jonathan McGavock; Catherine Paradis; Tim Stockwell Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2020-03-12
Authors: Natalie Gold; Mark Egan; Kristina Londakova; Abigail Mottershaw; Hugo Harper; Robyn Burton; Clive Henn; Maria Smolar; Matthew Walmsley; Rohan Arambepola; Robin Watson; Sarah Bowen; Felix Greaves Journal: Addiction Date: 2021-01-19 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Erin Hobin; Ashini Weerasinghe; Kate Vallance; David Hammond; Jonathan McGavock; Thomas K Greenfield; Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Catherine Paradis; Tim Stockwell Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: Kate Vallance; Alexandria Vincent; Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Tim Stockwell; David Hammond; Thomas K Greenfield; Jonathan McGavock; Erin Hobin Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: Nancy Poole; Rose A Schmidt; Alan Bocking; Julie Bergeron; Isabel Fortier Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-06 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Nour Schoueri-Mychasiw; Ashini Weerasinghe; Tim Stockwell; Kate Vallance; David Hammond; Thomas K Greenfield; Jonathan McGavock; Erin Hobin Journal: Drug Alcohol Rev Date: 2020-10-19