Abstract
BackgroundStraight-sided glasses can slow the rate of lager consumption in a laboratory setting compared with curved glasses. Slower drinking rates may lower overall alcohol consumption. Glass shape is therefore a potential target for intervention. The aim of this randomised crossover trial was to estimate the impact of serving draught beer and cider in straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, on alcohol sales for on-site consumption in bars. MethodsTwenty-four bars in England completed two intervention periods (A) and two control periods (B) in a randomised order: 1) BABA; 2) BAAB; 3) ABBA; or 4) ABAB. Each period lasted two weeks and involved serving draught beer and cider in either straight-sided glasses (A) or the venue's usual glasses (≥75% curved; B). The primary outcome was the mean volume (in litres) of draught beer and cider sold weekly, compared between A and B periods using a paired-samples t-test on aggregate data. A regression model adjusted for season, order, special events, and busyness. FindingsMean weekly volume sales of draught beer and cider was 690·9 L (SD 491·3 L) across A periods and 732·5 L (SD 501·0 L) across B periods. The adjusted mean difference (A minus B) was 8·9 L per week (95% CI -45·5 to 63·3; p = 0·737). InterpretationThis study provides no clear evidence that using straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, reduces the volume of draught beer and cider sold for on-site consumption in bars.
Highlights
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with over 200 health conditions (World Health Organisation, 2018) and is among the top five risk factors for disease globally (Lim et al, 2012)
One extreme outlier was identified in these data and was subsequently removed as it was due to a known special event that greatly increased alcohol sales
In this randomised crossover trial we found no clear evidence that serving draught beer and cider in straightsided pint and half-pint glasses reduced the weekly or daily volume of draught beer and cider sold in bars, compared with usual pint and halfpint glasses that were predominantly (i.e., 75% or more) curved
Summary
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with over 200 health conditions (World Health Organisation, 2018) and is among the top five risk factors for disease globally (Lim et al, 2012) It creates a substantial burden on public services, including over one million hospital admissions and £3⋅5 billion in costs to the UK healthcare system (Na tional Health Service [NHS] per year) (Health & Social Care Info, 2015). Glass shape is a potential target for intervention The aim of this randomised crossover trial was to estimate the impact of serving draught beer and cider in straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, on alcohol sales for on-site consumption in bars. Interpretation: This study provides no clear evidence that using straight-sided glasses, compared with usual, predominantly curved glasses, reduces the volume of draught beer and cider sold for on-site consumption in bars
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