Jinhui Zhao1, Tim Stockwell1, Kate Vallance1, Erin Hobin2,3. 1. Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 2. Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is limited evidence that alcohol warning labels (AWLs) affect population alcohol consumption. New evidence-informed AWLs were introduced in the sole government-run liquor store in Whitehorse, Yukon, that included a cancer warning (Ca), low-risk drinking guidelines (LRDGs) and standard drink (SD) messages. These temporarily replaced previous pregnancy warning labels. We test if the intervention was associated with reduced alcohol consumption. METHOD: An interrupted time series study was designed to evaluate the effects of the AWLs on consumption for 28 months before and 14 months after starting the intervention. Neighboring regions of Yukon and Northwest Territories served as control sites. About 300,000 labels were applied to 98% of alcohol containers sold in Whitehorse during the intervention. Multilevel regression analyses of per capita alcohol sales data for people age 15 years and older were performed to examine consumption levels in the intervention and control sites before, during, and after the AWLs were introduced. Models were adjusted for demographic and economic characteristics over time and region. RESULTS: Total per capita retail alcohol sales in Whitehorse decreased by 6.31% (t test p < .001) during the intervention. Per capita sales of labeled products decreased by 6.59% (t test p < .001), whereas sales of unlabeled products increased by 6.91% (t test p < .05). There was a still larger reduction occurring after the intervention when pregnancy warning labels were reintroduced (-9.97% and -10.29%, t test p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Applying new AWLs was associated with reduced population alcohol consumption. The results are consistent with an accumulating impact of the addition of varying and highly visible labels with impactful messages.
OBJECTIVE: There is limited evidence that alcohol warning labels (AWLs) affect population alcohol consumption. New evidence-informed AWLs were introduced in the sole government-run liquor store in Whitehorse, Yukon, that included a cancer warning (Ca), low-risk drinking guidelines (LRDGs) and standard drink (SD) messages. These temporarily replaced previous pregnancy warning labels. We test if the intervention was associated with reduced alcohol consumption. METHOD: An interrupted time series study was designed to evaluate the effects of the AWLs on consumption for 28 months before and 14 months after starting the intervention. Neighboring regions of Yukon and Northwest Territories served as control sites. About 300,000 labels were applied to 98% of alcohol containers sold in Whitehorse during the intervention. Multilevel regression analyses of per capita alcohol sales data for people age 15 years and older were performed to examine consumption levels in the intervention and control sites before, during, and after the AWLs were introduced. Models were adjusted for demographic and economic characteristics over time and region. RESULTS: Total per capita retail alcohol sales in Whitehorse decreased by 6.31% (t test p < .001) during the intervention. Per capita sales of labeled products decreased by 6.59% (t test p < .001), whereas sales of unlabeled products increased by 6.91% (t test p < .05). There was a still larger reduction occurring after the intervention when pregnancy warning labels were reintroduced (-9.97% and -10.29%, t test p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Applying new AWLs was associated with reduced population alcohol consumption. The results are consistent with an accumulating impact of the addition of varying and highly visible labels with impactful messages.
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: Roger Williams; Charles Alessi; Graeme Alexander; Michael Allison; Richard Aspinall; Rachel L Batterham; Neeraj Bhala; Natalie Day; Anil Dhawan; Colin Drummond; James Ferguson; Graham Foster; Ian Gilmore; Raphael Goldacre; Harriet Gordon; Clive Henn; Deirdre Kelly; Alastair MacGilchrist; Roger McCorry; Neil McDougall; Zulfiquar Mirza; Kieran Moriarty; Philip Newsome; Richard Pinder; Stephen Roberts; Harry Rutter; Stephen Ryder; Marianne Samyn; Katherine Severi; Nick Sheron; Douglas Thorburn; Julia Verne; John Williams; Andrew Yeoman Journal: Lancet Date: 2021-03-11 Impact factor: 202.731