| Warnings
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| Alcohol Beverage Warning
Label Evaluation |
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| The aim of the ABLE project is to study awareness and
knowledge of the alcohol warning label. On November 18, 1989 all alcoholic beverages were
required to display the following warning:
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon general, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. High school students from a county in the Midwest were surveyed each year from the fall of 1989, before the label was required, to the fall of 1995. Students completed questionnaires assessing their exposure to, beliefs about, memory for, and awareness of the alcohol warning label. Additionally, drug history, self-reported drinking and driving behavior, and knowledge of fetal alcohol syndrome were measured. Initial findings indicate that memory, exposure, and awareness of the warning have increased. Alcohol use, driving after drinking, and beliefs about the risks of drinking have not changed since implementation of the warning. The initial positive effects of the warning leveled off approximately 3.5 years after the inclusion of the warning on alcohol beverage containers. Earlier alcohol use was associated with later exposure to the warning but early exposure to the warning was not associated with later alcohol use. These results suggest that the warning is having the intended effect, as stated by the law requiring the warning, of informing and reminding persons of the risks associated with alcohol use. The warning does not appear to increase or decrease alcohol use. |
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| Arizona Alcohol Warning
Poster |
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| The aim of this project is to study awareness and knowledge
of the Arizona alcohol warning poster. On January 1, 1992 all establishments that sell
alcohol were required to display the following warning:
WARNING: Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine, and other alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Arizona college students were surveyed before and after the legislation became effective. Introduction of the warning poster was associated with greater exposure, awareness, and memory for the content. There was suggestive but inconsistent evidence indicating less tolerance for alcohol consumption during pregnancy and no indication that intentions to avoid alcohol during pregnancy changed. The initial positive increases in awareness of and memory for the poster leveled off over time. These results were replicated in a sample of high-school students. |
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| Television Violence
Advisory |
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| The aim of this project was to evaluate awareness and
knowledge of the TV violence advisory that was adopted by four major television networks
in the summer of 1993. The warning read as follows: "Due to
some violent content, parental discretion advised." High school students from
a county in the Midwest were surveyed in 1993 and 1994. Students completed questionnaires
assessing their exposure to, beliefs about and memory for the TV advisory. Additional
measures included beliefs about content regulation and perceptions of TV violence and sex.
The majority of high-school students indicated that they had seen the advisory.
Additionally, students awareness of and memory for the advisory increased over time.
However, students' advisory-related beliefs and the amount of violence they watched on
television remained unchanged.
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| Relevant publications
(in chronological order) |
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