Abstract Aims To investigate the impact of unit and calorie information on drinking behaviour in an ad libitum taste test paradigm. Methods In this experimental human laboratory study, participants were randomized to one of four conditions, balanced by gender, using a 2 (unit information: present vs. absent) × 2 (calorie information: present vs. absent) between-subjects design. The percentage of beer consumed during the taste test was the primary outcome measure. Results Among this largely undergraduate student population, we found no evidence that either unit or calorie information impacted alcohol consumption in an ad libitum taste test. A manipulation check indicated that few of the participants receiving either unit and/or calorie information could accurately recall the number of units and/or calories in the beverages provided to them, indicating low levels of engagement with this information. Analysis of qualitative reactions to calorie and unit labelling indicated possible negative unintended consequences of calorie and unit information, including using unit information to facilitate consumption of higher strength beverages, and calorie information to reduce food consumption prior to a drinking episode. Conclusion We find no evidence to support an effect of unit or calorie information, a public-health initiative supported by the alcohol industry, on drinking behaviour. It is possible that compulsory unit and calorie labelling, at least in the numeric format used here, would have no effect on alcohol intake and may even have some negative unintended consequences among certain populations.
No Impact of Calorie or Unit Information on Ad Libitum Alcohol Consumption
O. Maynard,Tess Langfield,A. Attwood,Emily Allen,Imogen Drew,Alex Votier,M. Munafo
Published 2017 in Alcohol and Alcoholism
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2017
- Venue
Alcohol and Alcoholism
- Publication date
2017-09-18
- Fields of study
Medicine, Psychology
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- ad libitum taste test paradigm
A laboratory drinking task in which participants can consume beverages freely during a taste test.
Aliases: taste test paradigm, ad libitum taste test
- alcohol consumption
The amount of beer consumed during the taste test, used as the primary outcome measure.
Aliases: drinking behaviour, beer consumed
- calorie information
Numeric information about beverage calories provided on labels or during the experiment.
Aliases: calorie label
- compulsory labelling
A policy approach in which unit and calorie information would be required on alcohol products.
Aliases: mandatory labelling
- manipulation check
An assessment of whether participants could recall the unit and calorie information they were shown.
Aliases: recall check
- qualitative reactions
Participants' open-ended or descriptive responses about how they reacted to the unit and calorie labels.
Aliases: qualitative responses, reactions
- unit and calorie labelling
The practice of displaying numeric unit and calorie information on alcoholic beverages.
Aliases: unit and calorie labels, numeric labelling
- unit information
Numeric information about alcohol units provided on beverage labels or during the experiment.
Aliases: unit label
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