Conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL), the survey assessed the potential impact of introducing calorie information on alcohol packaging and its implications for low-risk and hazardous drinkers.
The study, involving 4,683 adults across England, found that while a majority of respondents expressed positive attitudes towards calorie labelling, support was significantly lower among alcohol consumers compared to non-drinkers. The results indicate that mandatory calorie labelling could affect drinking patterns, particularly among hazardous drinkers, who were more inclined to alter their behaviour in response to such labelling.
The survey revealed that 57.9% of respondents thought alcohol calorie labelling would be useful, and 63.6% agreed it should be available in shops and supermarkets. Just over half (51.7%) of those surveyed supported labelling in hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants. However, drinkers were less likely than non-drinkers to back these measures. After controlling for factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, both low-risk and hazardous drinkers showed less enthusiasm for the implementation of calorie labels.
The introduction of calorie labels could potentially drive changes in drinking patterns. According to the study, 46.4% of alcohol consumers said they would alter their drinking habits if calorie information was displayed on alcoholic beverages.
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