10.17863/CAM.20478
Troy, DM
Attwood, AS
Maynard, OM
Scott-Samuel, NS
Hickman, M
Marteau, Theresa
0000-0003-3025-1129
Munafo, MR
EFFECT OF GLASS MARKINGS ON DRINKING RATE IN SOCIAL ALCOHOL DRINKERS
Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
2016
Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
2016-06
Conference Object
0145-6008
1530-0277
Background/Purpose: Excessive alcohol use is a major public health concern. Altering the shape and design of glassware has shown promise as a potential choice architecture intervention (i.e., changing the property of relevant objects to encourage healthier behaviour). The aim of these studies was to explore the influence of volume information on glassware on the time taken to consume an alcoholic beverage. Methods: In Study 1, male and female social alcohol consumers (n = 159) were randomised to drink 12 fluid ounces (fl oz) of either low or standard strength lager, from either a curved glass marked with yellow tape at the midpoint or an unmarked curved glass, in a between-subjects design. In Study 2, male and female social alcohol consumers (n = 160) were randomised to drink 12 fl oz of standard strength lager from either a curved glass marked with ¼, ½, and ¾ volume points or an unmarked curved glass, in a between-subjects design. The primary outcome measure for both studies was total drinking time of an alcoholic beverage. Results: In Study 1, there was no clear statistical evidence that glass marking (mean difference = 0.45, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.04, p = 0.58) or lager strength (mean difference = 0.94, 95% CI 2.53 to 0.65, p = 0.25) was associated with total drinking time. In Study 2, when outliers were removed and analyses adjusted for age and sex, there was some evidence for slower drinking times from a marked glass compared to an unmarked glass (mean difference = 1.38, 95% CI 0.04 to 2.71, p = 0.043). Combining data from both studies, when outliers were removed and analyses adjusted for age and sex, provided weak evidence for slower drinking times from a marked glass compared to an unmarked glass (mean difference = 0.89, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.81, p = 0.063). There was no clear evidence for an effect of glass marking on post-consumption alcohol craving or mood in either study. Conclusions: Explicit volume information may have a modest influence on the time taken to consume an alcoholic beverage, but this will require further study in larger samples. The design and content of volume information may also be important. Glassware characteristics may therefore represent a modifiable target for public health intervention.