An Evaluation of the Alcohol Warning Label: A Comparison of the United States and Ontario, Canada in 1990 and 1991

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of the introduction of a health warning label on alcoholic beverage containers, national household telephone interview surveys of adults were conducted in the United States (N = 2000) in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and in the Province of Ontario, Canada (N = 1000) in 1990 and 1991. In 1991 in the U.S., the proportion reporting awareness of the label increased to 27% and the following subgroups were more likely to have seen the label: men, 18 to 29 year olds, heavy drinkers, and the more educated. The pattern of early outcome results is consistent with a very modest impact of exposure to the warning labels.