The impact of nutrition information labels on alcohol containers in Canada: an online randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if nutritional information on an alcohol container influenced consumer perceptions of product healthiness, and whether the effect of information differed by display format.

METHODS

Online randomized controlled trial among adults in Canada sampled from a commercial panel (analytical sample n = 3880) in November/December 2024. Participants were randomized to view a wine product in one of four conditions: (1) control (no label), (2) Nutrition Facts table (NFT), (3) textual nutrition information, (4) Alcohol Facts table, and were asked "How healthy would it be to drink this wine regularly?" (7-point Likert-type item, very unhealthy to very healthy). Logistic regression compared the likelihood of rating the product as "a little healthy/healthy/very healthy" between conditions.

RESULTS

Compared to the control (16.5 %), those in the NFT condition had higher odds of rating the product as "a little healthy/healthy/very healthy" (28.3 %, AOR = 1.97, 95 %CI,1.57,2.47), as did those in the textual nutrition information condition (23.8 %, AOR = 1.60, 95 %CI,1.27,2.02). There were no differences between the control condition and the Alcohol Facts table condition (18.8 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Nutritional information on alcohol products may lead consumers to falsely believe products are 'healthier'. Label design and features that make alcohol products distinct from non-alcoholic food and beverages may reduce unintended impacts.