Researchers suggest changes to alcohol labelling to reduce heavy drinking

A British study recently surveyed heavy drinkers and discovered that slightly more than half would reconsider their drinking habits if calorie labels were introduced on alcoholic beverages. 

Published in the journal BMJ Open, the study examined survey data from 4,683 adults in England to evaluate how calorie labelling on alcohol might influence drinking behaviour and attitudes. The data was collected from a representative sample of the population between November 2022 and January 2023.

Participants were divided into three categories based on their drinking habits: non-drinkers, low-risk drinkers, and hazardous drinkers. This classification was determined by a questionnaire that measured alcohol consumption and its effects on daily life. 

Approximately 75% of respondents fell into the low-risk category, while the remaining 25% were considered hazardous drinkers.

The study revealed that 54% of hazardous drinkers said they would alter their drinking habits if calorie information was available, compared to 44% of low-risk drinkers. Among hazardous drinkers, 27% indicated they would opt for lower-calorie beverages, while 18% would drink less frequently and 17% would reduce the amount they consume.

In terms of calorie awareness, hazardous drinkers were more accurate than low-risk or non-drinkers at estimating the calorie content of various alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, cider, and spirits. 

When asked to select the correct 50-calorie range for different drinks, hazardous drinkers were consistently more precise and, when wrong, typically overestimated the calorie content.

The researchers concluded that while public campaigns to improve calorie knowledge might not significantly lower alcohol consumption, efforts to shift attitudes toward drinking could have a greater impact.

The study’s lead author Professor Andrew Steptoe (UCL Behavioural Science & Health) noted: “Our study found that a sizeable proportion of heavier drinkers said they would change their drinking habits if calorie labelling was introduced. About 9% of calories consumed by men and 5% by women come from alcoholic drinks. Alcohol calorie labelling could therefore contribute in a modest way to helping people maintain a healthy weight.”