The WARN Study: Investigating University Student Perceptions of Alcohol Risk and Health Warning Labels
Abstract
Products that carry risk, including cigarettes, cannabis, and vaping products, require health warning labels on their packaging. Despite the established health hazards, health warnings are not required on alcohol products. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that Canadian university students have about health risks from alcohol and health warnings. Using mixed methods, Canadian university students were recruited through social media to participate in an online survey (n= 331) and semi-structured interviews (n= 14). Survey results indicate that participants strongly support health warnings and believe that health warnings are valuable. Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results indicate that students perceive alcohol as less dangerous than other drugs, health warnings are valuable in informing them of risk, and there is an expectation of warnings surrounding dangerous substances. This research supports efforts to legislate health warning labels on alcoholic beverages sold in Canada.