Does Pictorial and Textual Health Warning Labels on Sugar-sweetened Beverages Effect Consumer Consumption: An Exploratory, Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Sugar is considered to be the arch criminal of dental caries, and sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a common source of dietary sugar. It is an established fact that tobacco warning labels efficiently inform customers about the harmful effects of tobacco and enable individuals to reduce consumption. Lessons learnt from tobacco warning labels can be applied to developing and implementing warning labels for SSBs. Aim: To develop pictorial and textual health warning labels for SSBs and assess effectiveness among the study population regarding oral health risks and their readiness to change their consumption pattern. Methodology: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 patients visiting a Public Dental Hospital in New Delhi. Pictorial and textual warnings for SSBs were developed and assessed for the comprehension and credibility, persuasiveness, and impact of the warning labels by a specially designed questionnaire. Results: More than 80% of the study population found both the warning labels to be easy to understand, believable, and truthful. Pictorial warning labels had very high impact that 96% of the study population was ready to reduce their consumption and more appreciably 29% of the respondents were ready to quit SSB consumption. Similarly, 95% of the study population were ready to reduce their consumption on seeing the textual warning labels (P = 0.12) with 27.5% reporting to completely give up the consumption. Conclusion: Textual and pictorial warnings have desired deterrent impact on the SSB consumers who tend to consume SSBs habitually. It can help us in achieving the sustainable development goals.