Alcohol health-warning labels: promises and challenges

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide, with a significant economic and social burden. Alcohol health-warning labels (HWLs) are a low-cost, high-reach strategy to inform consumers about alcohol-related harms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on alcohol HWLs, including their effectiveness in increasing knowledge and changing attitudes and behaviors, as well as the challenges to their implementation. We discuss the different types of HWLs, such as pictorial warnings, text-based warnings, and nutritional information, and their impact on consumer perceptions and choices. We also examine the role ofHWLs in promoting public health and reducing alcohol-related harm, considering the socio-cultural and political factors that influence their effectiveness. Finally, we identify gaps in the literature and propose directions for future research, including the need for more studies on the long-term impact of HWLs, the optimal design and content of labels, and the potential for synergistic effects with other alcohol control policies. This review aims to provide policymakers, researchers, and public health practitioners with a better understanding of the potential and limitations of alcohol HWLs as a public health intervention.