Would calorie labels on alcohol packages encourage heavy drinkers to drink less?
A study found that if alcohol drinkers were given calorie labels on their beverages, they would consider changing their drinking habits.
A study conducted in England showed that people might reduce their alcohol consumption if calorie counts were listed on drink packages.
According to a study conducted by UCL researchers, in a survey of 4,684 adults, researchers found that if calorie labels were added to alcoholic beverages, more than half of drinkers would consider changing their drinking habits.
The study, published in BMJ Open, found that 54% of “hazardous drinkers” would change their drinking behaviour, while 44% of moderate drinkers would do so. More than a quarter of heavy drinkers said they would opt for lower-calorie drinks, while 18% would drink alcohol less often and 17% would reduce their overall consumption.
Lead author, Professor Andrew Steptoe, said calorie labelling could help high-risk drinkers reduce hidden calories from alcohol, contributing to healthy weight management.
According to studies, alcohol currently accounts for 9% of the daily calorie intake for men and 5% of the daily calorie intake for women, making it a significant contributor to excess weight gain.
The survey also found that hazardous drinkers were more aware of the calorie content of alcoholic beverages than those who drank less or did not drink at all.
However, the researchers caution that simply educating people about the calorie content of alcohol may not be enough to reduce consumption. Instead, changing people’s attitudes towards drinking alcohol may prove more effective.
Co-author Professor Jamie Brown said in a statement that although calorie labels can play a role in reducing alcohol-related harm, it should be part of a broader strategy that also includes regulation on alcohol marketing, availability and pricing.
The researchers also called for increasing the availability of low-calorie beverages, which were a popular choice among heavy drinkers because of labeling.
