scholarly journals Is More Better? Insights on Consumers’ Preferences for Nutritional Information on Wine Labelling

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Vecchio ◽  
Azzurra Annunziata ◽  
Angela Mariani
Keyword(s):  
Critical Issue ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Nutritional Information ◽  
Incentive Compatible ◽  
European Consumer ◽  
Sample Representativeness ◽  
Label Method ◽  
Italian Wine

Background: Nowadays there is a strong debate on the need to introduce mandatory nutritional information on alcoholic beverages labels, and particularly on wine, as a tool to promote more health-conscious drinking patterns in society. In 2018, the European alcoholic beverages industry presented a self-regulatory proposal, now under assessment by the European Commission. The most critical issue is how to convey nutritional information to consumers, as producers should decide to apply information on label or off-label. Method: The current study measured, through a non-hypothetical, incentive compatible artefactual field experiment, Italian wine consumers (N = 103) preferences for four different formats of wine nutritional labelling, namely: back label with the indication of kcal for glass of wine, with the nutritional panel referred to 100 mL, without nutritional information (but with a link to an external website) and with the indication of key nutrients for glass of wine. Results: Findings reveal that respondents preferred the nutritional panel on the back label, assigning the lowest preference to the less informative wine label (only with a website recall). Furthermore, results show a low level of respondents’ knowledge of wine nutritional properties. Conclusion: Findings, while limited in terms of sample representativeness, seem to support the European Consumer Organisation and the European Alcohol Policy Alliance objection to an off-line label and the advocacy for a traditional and complete on label nutritional information on wine.

scholarly journals In fear of a reversal back to the spirits-drinking era — the 2004 decrease of Finnish alcohol taxes in public discourse

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matilda Hellman ◽  
Thomas Karlsson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Total Consumption

Aims The study investigates how the dissimilar tax reductions for different alcoholic beverages (spirits, wine and beer) were debated during the large tax decrease on alcoholic beverages in Finland in 2004. Design and Data The material comprises parliamentary proceedings and discussions, as well as daily press items (=105) from 2003–2004. Content analyses, both quantitative and qualitative, were performed. Results The parliament's discussion on the unequal treatment of different beverage types concerned mostly the overall framing of a public health perspective, differencing between consumption of “spirits” and “non-spirits”. The mass media framed the question mostly from the industry's point of view. Neither a clear support of the total consumption model (excluding specification of beverage sort), nor a strong liberalisation model for alcohol policy were expressed in the materials. Varying stances were merely motivated within a paradigm of “changing drinking patterns”. Conclusions The differing treatment of different beverage types, especially the large reductions in spirits taxes, was crystallised as the fundamental public health concern surrounding the decision to lower alcohol taxes. In the end of the article the authors ask whether the lack of clear stances other than the drinking pattern framing could imply that the Finnish alcohol policy debate has become more heterogeneous, neutralised or resigned in its basic nature.

scholarly journals “It can’t happen to me”

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 385-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vendula Belackova ◽  
Barbara Janikova ◽  
Jaroslav Vacek ◽  
Hana Fidesova ◽  
Michal Miovsky
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Response Method ◽  
Alcohol Users ◽  
The Impact

Background: In September 2012, a series of methanol poisonings occurred in the Czech Republic as a result of an influx of illicit alcohol into (predominantly) cheap alcoholic beverages on the retail market. The public authorities decided to prevent public health risks by prohibiting sales of liquors that contained more than 20% alcohol (> 20% liquor). The “partial” prohibition lasted for almost two weeks, but the poisonings still continued. This article assesses the impact of the methanol poisoning risks and the (partial) prohibition on alcohol drinking patterns, and describes the understanding of risks and their mitigation in vulnerable groups. Methods: The rapid assessment and response method (RAR) was used during the (partial) alcohol prohibition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with respondents recruited for the study in alcohol-intake settings (e.g., bars and restaurants, street alcohol outlets) in six regions. In total, 107 alcohol users were interviewed, mostly with risky drinking patterns (69% scored ≥ 1 on the CAGE scale), and 53 alcohol retailers/staff members serving alcohol. Results: About one third of the alcohol users in the study (35%) drank > 20% liquors during the prohibition; a higher score on the CAGE scale was associated with a lower probability of drinking > 20% liquors during the period of the prohibition, probably because of the perception of being at high risk of poisoning. There was some increase in drinking liquors with an alcohol content less than 20%. Those who continued drinking > 20% liquors typically did so in the belief that some sources of these were safe. Conclusions: Public policies aimed at reducing the risk of methanol poisonings in emergency situations should adopt broader measures than those focusing on market control. These measures include increased access to brief interventions, addressing the strategies that alcohol consumers adopt to prevent risk, and, in general, helping consumers make informed choices to prevent further fatalities.

scholarly journals Does Norwegian alcohol policy favour lower alcohol content beverages? A historical overview

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-23
Author(s):  
Øyvind Horverak
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Alcohol Content ◽  
Wine Consumption ◽  
Main Thesis ◽  
Lower Alcohol ◽  
Cultural Sphere ◽  
The Government

Aims A historical overview of the relation between Norwegian alcohol policy and problems caused by different alcoholic beverages during the last two centuries. Results & Conclusions The main thesis is that the concrete shaping of Norwegian alcohol policy changes according to the beverage which is supposed to cause most harm. Traditionally, this beverage has been liquor, and the Norwegian alcohol policy has mainly been occupied with the evils of spirits. Problems following from the consumption of beer and wine have been seen as relatively modest. At times, these weaker beverages have been viewed as a temperate alternative to the stronger spirits. After WWII, the government chose a policy which tended to favour wine over liquor and beer. Wine consumption was related to a somewhat more sophisticated and cultural sphere than the rude consumption of beer and spirits.

The Earliest Toasts

2019 ◽  
pp. 60-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Guerra-Doce
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Cultural Construction ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Alcoholic Drinks ◽  
Religious Factors ◽  
Archaeological Perspective

The taste for alcohol is not exclusive to humans, as some other animal species are attracted to ripe fruits and nectar due to the natural occurrence of ethanol. However, what makes Homo sapiens different is their capacity to produce alcoholic beverages. From the Neolithic, if not earlier, the production of alcoholic drinks is documented, and this production ensured the supply of alcohol. Consequently, alcohol consumption was no longer sporadic and occasional. This process ran in parallel to the development of specific alcohol-related equipment, and organized drinking patterns gradually became more and more formalized. Its use has depended not only on its effects, mainly its capacity to enhance sociability, but also on historical, economic, and religious factors. The aim of this chapter is to search for the origins of this dynamic in prehistoric Europe from an archaeological perspective in order to explore the foundations of the cultural construction of alcohol.

scholarly journals Estonia: Problems created by border-trade for applying high-tax alcohol policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Täht ◽  
H Laarmann
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Excise Tax ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Border Trade ◽  
The Government ◽  
Over Exploitation

Abstract In early 2000s, Estonia had one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption globally. In 2008, the average salary could buy 62 litres of strong spirits, compared with 28 litres in 2000; the increase of affordability was one of the highest in the EU. Since then, alcohol consumption per capita has been reduced by a third, which has also led to a reduction in related problems: mortality from alcohol-related illnesses has fallen by 40%. This was achieved with the progressive adoption of measures that rely heavily, but not exclusively, on increasing excise taxes. In 2014 a comprehensive alcohol policy document was adopted, paving the way to the measures in all 10 areas of WHO global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Since then Estonia has launched treatment programme and awareness campaigns, restricted advertising and the exposure of alcohol in the public sphere. By 2017, the over-exploitation of the tax-based measures backfired. The twofold alcohol price difference between Estonia and Latvia, resulting from doubling the excise tax for beer and raising significantly those for other alcoholic beverages, caused an unintended increase in cross-border trade between the two countries. This, in turn, caused a new wave of public discussion around pricing policies, and a loss of popular support for tax increases. As a first step to address the problem, the government halved the tax increase planned for February 2018, thus increasing beer tax by 9% and spirits tax by 5%. Tax increases scheduled for 2019 and 2020 were cancelled, and taxes on spirits, beer and cider were cut by 25% instead. This resulted in Latvia decreasing their spirits taxes by 15% in turn. This development forces health promoters to seek new ways to reduce harm to public health and win back support to healthy policy choices.

scholarly journals The Finnish Drinking Habits Survey: Implications for alcohol policy and prevention

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 619-631
Author(s):  
Katariina Warpenius ◽  
Pia Mäkelä
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcohol Prevention ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
Related Harm

Aims/materials: This reflection piece reviews some of the key results and conclusions from the book Näin Suomi juo ( This is how Finns drink, 2018), based on the Finnish Drinking Habits Survey. Our aim was to go through the results taking the perspective of prevention workers and policymakers: how could they benefit from the scientific findings when tackling alcohol-related harm? Results/reflections: The reflections displayed in this article provide some useful arguments and justifications for population-level alcohol policy in the controversial alcohol policy debate. Harms do not only arise among the heaviest drinkers, and efficient methods to prevent harm may be found among the prevention efforts that apply to populations rather than only to the heaviest drinkers. The article also illustrates how the results from a population survey can be used in order to identify specific challenges and solutions for alcohol prevention in a given population. The results help in identifying the population groups and situations with an elevated risk of alcohol-related harm and in characterising the drinking patterns and social situations in which drinking takes place in these vulnerable parts of the population. Conclusions: The review illustrates that a many-sided understanding of alcohol consumption and the related harm, based on survey results, is more far-reaching in terms of prevention and policy than a knowledge base built solely on register data on the development of alcohol consumption and harm. For example, the respondents’ drinking patterns are linked not only to their attitudes and risk perceptions but also to what people consider to be appropriate means to reduce alcohol use and the related harm in terms of alcohol policy, informal social control and people’s life management.

scholarly journals “The Dop System of Alcohol Distribution is Dead, but It’s Legacy Lives On….”

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3701
Author(s):  
Philip May ◽  
Anna-Susan Marais ◽  
Marlene De Vries ◽  
Julie Hasken ◽  
Julie Stegall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Problematic Drinking ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Objective: Determine the prevalence of Dop, a system of labor payment via alcoholic beverages, in a South African province, and its influence on maternal drinking and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Methods: Data from studies of FASD epidemiology were analyzed. Results: Forty-two percent to 67% of mothers reported drinking. In 1999, 5% of women reported Dop allocations in their lifetime: 14% of mothers of FASD children and 1% of controls. In 2010, 1.1% of mothers reported lifetime Dop: 1.6% of FASD mothers and 0.7% of controls. Commercial alcohol sales have replaced the Dop system. Total FASD rates remained high in rural areas in 2010 and rose in urban settings. Urban rates of total FASD surpassed rural area rates in 2010. Correlation analysis did not reveal a strong or significant, direct relationship between Dop experience and heavy drinking (r = 0.123, p < 0.001, r2 = 0.015), or the diagnosis of FASD in children (OR = 0.003, p = 0.183). Conclusion: Dop, as a systematic practice, is dead and does not have a direct influence on alcohol availability, heavy maternal drinking, or the probability of an FASD diagnosis. Nevertheless, today’s problematic drinking patterns were heavily influenced (shaped) by Dop and have negatively impacted the prevalence and severity of FASD.

scholarly journals Reflections on Italy's Decreasing Alcohol Consumption

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 245-250
Author(s):  
Amedeo Cottino ◽  
Elisabetta Forni
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Healthy Lifestyles ◽  
Essential Component ◽  
The Past ◽  
Main Meals ◽  
People Today ◽  
At Home

Although Italy still lacks an alcohol policy, consumption of alcoholic beverages, and in particular wine, has been decreasing steadily for several decades. Why? The authors argue that, even if most Italians maintain the habit of eating their main meals at home, wine is losing its role as an essential component of the menu. People today drink smaller amounts and less often than in the past particularly because wine is no longer “eaten” as before. In addition, two other factors may have contributed to the decline in consumption: the loss of confidence in producers and wholesalers following the toxic wine scandals and the increasing preoccupation with healthy lifestyles.

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