Beverages In Stores Research Articles

Effectiveness of alcohol warning labels for at-risk groups and the general public: A policy-informing randomized experiment in Chile

ObjectiveThe World Health Organization recommends using health-risk warnings on alcoholic beverages. This study examines the impact of separate or combined warning labels for at-risk groups and the general population on alcohol purchase decisions. MethodsIn 2022, 7758 adults who consumed alcohol or were pregnant/lactating women (54.0 % female, mean age = 40.6 years) were presented with an online store's beverage section and randomly assigned to one of six warning labels in a between-subjects experimental design: no-warning, pregnant/lactating, drinking-driving, general cancer risk, combined warnings, and assorted warnings across bottles. The main outcome, the intention to purchase an alcoholic vs. non-alcoholic beverage, was examined with adjusted risk differences using logistic regressions. ResultsParticipants exposed to the general cancer risk warning decreased their alcoholic choices by 10.4 percentage points (pp.) (95 % CI [−0.139, −0.069], p < 0.001, OR = 0.561), while those in the pregnancy/lactation warning condition did it by 3.8 pp. (95 % CI [−0.071, −0.005], p = 0.025, OR = 0.806). The driving-drinking warning had no significant effect. Participants exposed to the combined warnings label, or the assorted warnings reduced alcohol purchase decisions by 6.1 pp. (95 % CI [−0.095, −0.028], p < 0.001, OR = 0.708) and 4.3 pp. (95 % CI [−0.076, −0.010], p = 0.011, OR = 0.782), respectively. Cancer warning outperformed other labels and was effective for subgroups such as pregnant/lactating women, young adults, and low-income individuals. ConclusionsGeneral cancer risk warnings are more effective at reducing alcohol purchase decisions compared to warning labels for specific groups or labels using multiple warnings. In addition to warning labels, other policies should be considered for addressing well-known alcohol-related risks (e.g., drinking and driving).

COVID-19 experiences and cruise booking behavior: Insights from YouTube viewers applying revised protection motivation theory

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between risk perceptions (crowding risk perception, health risk perception) and self-protective behavioral intentions and booking intention for COVID-19 using the theory of protection motivation previously verified in the study and to analyze the structural relationship between all variables. In particular, it was intended to investigate the specific impact relationship between COVID-19 risk perception, including crowding risk perception and health risk perception, and self-protective behavior and cruise booking intention. The survey was conducted on subscribers of travel YouTube channels with cruise video content, and the respondents actively responded by providing convenience store beverage coupons. In an online survey conducted for a month from January 15, 2023, 312 samples were collected from travelers who have experienced cruises in the past five years. SPSS and AMOS statistical programs were used, and first, frequency analysis and discriminant validity analysis were verified. In addition, the verification of structural relevance between variables was analyzed by the covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). Demographic characteristics, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural model analysis verified the hypothesis. Based on the results of the analysis, this study presents basic evidence useful for establishing management strategies for cruise companies.

South Africa's Health Promotion Levy on Pricing and Acquisition of Beverages in Local Spazas and Supermarkets.

In response to concern over rising sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, in April 2018, South Africa became the first Sub-Saharan African country to implement an SSB tax. We assess changes in pricing and acquisition of beverages from local supermarkets and small stores among 18-39 year old adults living in one township in the Western Cape, before and after tax implementation. This study is among the first evaluations of an SSB tax on the local food environment in a low-income township. Store beverage pricing and participant surveys were cross-sectional, analyzed 1 month before and 11 months after implementation of the tax (March 2018 and March 2019). Langa, Western Cape, South Africa. Surveyed participants were residents of Langa between 18-39 years old (N=2,693 in 2018 and N=2,520 in 2019). Prices of taxed SSBs increased significantly among small shops and supermarkets between 2018 and 2019. There were non-significant decreases in prices of untaxed beverages in small shops, but prices of untaxed beverages increased in supermarkets. Across all store types, there was a 9 percentage point decrease in the probability of purchasing regular soda weekly pre/post-implementation. Reductions in purchasing were larger in small shops than supermarkets. We found some differential impacts of the levy on pricing and acquisition of beverages by retailer type in one low-income township. As other Sub-Saharan African countries consider similar fiscal policies to curb soda consumption, obesity and related diseases, this work can be used to understand the implications of these policies in the retail setting.

Characterization of Buckwheat Beverages Fermented with Lactic Acid Bacterial Cultures and Bifidobacteria.

This study aimed to examine the effect of four different industrial starter cultures containing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria on selected characteristics of beverages prepared from buckwheat and stored at 4 °C for 28 days. This study included the determination of pH during fermentation and during refrigerated storage, determination of the number of LAB and bifidobacteria, and chromatographic analysis of carbohydrates. This study showed that the tested starter cultures effectively fermented the buckwheat beverage. There was a sufficient number of viable cells in the starter microflora for the obtained beverages to exhibit potential health-promoting properties. Beverages had stable pH values during refrigerated storage. The stored beverages showed changes in the content of selected carbohydrates, which indicates the constant biochemical activity of the present starter microflora. This study provides useful references on the metabolism of LAB in plant-based beverages.

Study on Thermoelectric Cooler Driven by Solar Energy in Medan City

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of thermoelectric cooler driven by solar energy in Medan city, Indonesia. This cooler able to use in a remote area where electricity is still not available. The cooler could be used to store beverage that must be stored at low temperatures to maintain the freshness such as drink cup. The solar thermoelectric cooler is based on the principles of a thermoelectric module or Peltier effect to create a hot side and a cold side. The cold side of the thermoelectric module is utilized for cooling purposes to the cooling space. The heat from the hot side of the module is rejected to ambient surroundings by using heat sinks and fans. The solar thermoelectric cooler was experimentally tested for the cooling purpose. Experimental results showed that the solar thermoelectric cooler could reduce the temperature of the drink cup from 26oC to 15oC in approximately 40 min. The maximum COP of the cooling system during the experiment was calculated and found to be about 0.356. The effect of weather conditions on the COP value was about 85.90%.

Formative Evaluation to Increase Availability of Healthy Snacks and Beverages in Stores Near Schools in Two Rural Oregon Counties, 2013.

IntroductionChildren living in rural areas are at greater risk for obesity than their urban counterparts. Differences in healthy food access may contribute to this disparity. Most healthy food access initiatives target stores in urban areas. We conducted a formative evaluation to increase availability of healthy snacks and beverages in food stores near schools in rural Oregon.MethodsWe assessed availability of healthy snacks and beverages in food stores (n = 15) using the SNACZ (Students Now Advocating to Create Healthy Snacking Zones) checklist and conducted in-depth interviews with food store owners (n = 6). Frequency distributions were computed for SNACZ checklist items, and interview data were analyzed by using applied thematic analysis.ResultsOverall, availability of healthy snacks and beverages in study communities was low. Four interrelated themes regarding store owner perspectives on stocking healthy snacks and beverages emerged from the interviews: customer demand, space constraints, vendor influence, and perishability.ConclusionIn addition to working with food store owners, efforts to increase availability of healthy snacks and beverages in rural areas should engage young people, food buyers (eg, schools), and vendors as stakeholders for identifying strategies to increase demand for and availability of these items. Further research will be needed to determine which strategies or combinations of strategies are feasible to implement in the study communities.

Using a computational model to quantify the potential impact of changing the placement of healthy beverages in stores as an intervention to "Nudge" adolescent behavior choice.

BackgroundProduct placement influences consumer choices in retail stores. While sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) manufacturers expend considerable effort and resources to determine how product placement may increase SSB purchases, the information is proprietary and not available to the public health and research community. This study aims to quantify the effect of non-SSB product placement in corner stores on adolescent beverage purchasing behavior. Corner stores are small privately owned retail stores that are important beverage providers in low-income neighborhoods – where adolescents have higher rates of obesity.MethodsUsing data from a community-based survey in Baltimore and parameters from the marketing literature, we developed a decision-analytic model to simulate and quantify how placement of healthy beverage (placement in beverage cooler closest to entrance, distance from back of the store, and vertical placement within each cooler) affects the probability of adolescents purchasing non-SSBs.ResultsIn our simulation, non-SSB purchases were 2.8 times higher when placed in the “optimal location” – on the second or third shelves of the front cooler – compared to the worst location on the bottom shelf of the cooler farthest from the entrance. Based on our model results and survey data, we project that moving non-SSBs from the worst to the optional location would result in approximately 5.2 million more non-SSBs purchased by Baltimore adolescents annually.ConclusionsOur study is the first to quantify the potential impact of changing placement of beverages in corner stores. Our findings suggest that this could be a low-cost, yet impactful strategy to nudge this population—highly susceptible to obesity—towards healthier beverage decisions.

Availability of healthy snack foods and beverages in stores near high-income urban, low-income urban, and rural elementary and middle schools in Oregon.

Food stores near schools are an important source of snacks for children. However, few studies have assessed availability of healthy snacks in these settings. The aim of this study was to assess availability of healthy snack foods and beverages in stores near schools and examine how availability of healthy items varied by poverty level of the school and rural-urban location. Food stores were selected based on their proximity to elementary/middle schools in three categories: high-income urban, low-income urban, and rural. Audits were conducted within the stores to assess the presence or absence of 48 items in single-serving sizes, including healthy beverages, healthy snacks, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Overall, availability of healthy snack foods and beverages was low in all stores. However, there was significant cross-site variability in availability of several snack and fruit items, with stores near high-income urban schools having higher availability, compared to stores near low-income urban and/or rural schools. Stores near rural schools generally had the lowest availability, although several fruits were found more often in rural stores than in urban stores. There were no significant differences in availability of healthy beverages and fresh vegetables across sites. Availability of healthy snack foods and beverages was limited in stores near schools, but these limitations were more severe in stores proximal to rural and low-income schools. Given that children frequent these stores to purchase snacks, efforts to increase the availability of healthy products, especially in stores near rural and low-income schools, should be a priority.

Grocery Store Beverage Choices by Participants in Federal Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs

Sugar-sweetened beverages are a target for reduction in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Concerns have been raised about sugar-sweetened beverages purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This paper describes purchases of non-alcoholic refreshment beverages among participants in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and SNAP. Grocery store scanner data from a regional supermarket chain were used to assess refreshment beverage purchases of 39,172 households in January-June 2011. The sample consisted of families with a history of WIC participation in 2009-2011; about half also participated in SNAP. Beverage spending and volume purchased were compared for WIC sampled households either using SNAP benefits (SNAP) or not (WIC-only). Analyses were completed in 2012. Refreshment beverages were a significant contributor to expenditure on groceries by SNAP and WIC households. Sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for 58% of refreshment beverage purchases made by SNAP households and 48% of purchases by WIC-only households. Soft drinks were purchased most by all households. Fruit-based beverages were mainly 100% juice for WIC-only households and sugary fruit drinks for SNAP households. SNAP benefits paid for 72% of the sugar-sweetened beverage purchases made by SNAP households. Nationwide, SNAP was estimated to pay at least $1.7 to $2.1 billion annually for sugar-sweetened beverages purchased in grocery stores. Considerable amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages are purchased by households participating in WIC and SNAP. The SNAP program pays for most of the sugar-sweetened beverage purchases among SNAP households. The upcoming SNAP reauthorization could be a good time to reconsider the program priorities to align public funds with public health.