Teens less likely to buy sugary drinks with warning labels

Teenagers are less likely to purchase soft drinks and other sugary beverages that include health warning labels, according to a new study.
The study led by researchers at University of Pennsylvania in the US is among the first to examine how warning labels on sugary drinks influence teens.
The study builds upon earlier research which showed that parents were less likely to select sugary beverages for their kids when labels warning about the dangers of added sugar - which can contribute to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay - were present.
Researchers used an online survey to gauge the beverage selections of more than 2,000 participants aged 12-18 and from diverse backgrounds.

The beverages included either no label at all, or one of five warning labels - one featuring calorie content, and four displaying a variation of warning text.
Overall, 77 per cent of participants who saw no label said they would select a sugary drink in a hypothetical choice task.

Warning labels indicated that consumption of sugary drinks contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay, with slight variations in wording - such as emphasising that these conditions are "preventable diseases" or clarifying that consuming sugary drinks contributes to "type 2 diabetes."
Depending on the specific phrasing of the warning labels, participants were 8 to 16 per cent less likely to select sugary beverages when health warning labels were present compared to no label.

The researchers note that the warning labels also contributed to teenagers' understanding of the potentially negative effects on health of regularly consuming sugary beverages, with participants viewing the labels indicating they were more likely to understand that these drinks do not contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Additionally, the majority of participants (62 per cent) said they would support a warning label policy for sugary drinks.
"The influence of warning labels on the purchasing intentions of teenagers in this study highlights the need for nutrition information at the point of purchase to help people make healthier choices," said Eric M VanEpps, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.

The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.