First effects of warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers

Health warning labels are now required on alcoholic beverage containers in the United States. This study addresses who has seen these labels and respondents' reported changes in relevant knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Random samples of adults in the general population of the United States were interviewed by telephone 6 months prior to and 6 months after the enactment in November 1989 of the warning label law (N = 2006 and 2000, respectively). Six months after introduction of warning labels, over one fifth of the respondents reported having seen the labels. Greater proportions of key target groups, such as heavy drinkers and young men at risk for drunk driving, reported seeing the warnings. No statistically significant changes in knowledge of the health risks included on the labels were detected, but we found that knowledge levels for two non-included potential warnings had declined somewhat. After controlling for demographics and alcohol consumption, respondents who probably saw the warning labels were significantly more likely to report several behaviors indicative of heightened awareness of, and caution regarding, the hazard of drinking and driving and of drinking during pregnancy, hazards that are both included on the warning labels.