Thesis Format
Monograph
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Shelley, Jacob J.
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.
Summary for Lay Audience
Alcohol is the most used psychoactive drug in Canada, but many Canadians do not know that it is a carcinogen. Cancer is becoming more common in Canada, and it is important that people know how to reduce their risk of developing cancer. Alcohol consumption among Canadian university students is high. Students have been shown to have low alcohol literacy rates, meaning that they are not aware of all the risks of drinking alcohol. Importantly, research shows that the more alcohol consumed by a person, the greater the risk of developing cancer. Therefore, it is important that people understand that drinking less alcohol, or not drinking at all, can reduce their risk of developing cancer in their lifetime.
Health warning labels are not required on alcohol products, unlike other dangerous products like cigarettes and vaping devices. It is possible that some people may believe that alcohol is less dangerous than cigarettes, cannabis, and vaping products because alcohol does not have a health warning label. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how Canadian university students perceive the health risks of alcohol compared to other products that have health warning labels. The study also investigated the attitudes and beliefs that university students have about alcohol health warning labels. A mixed methods study was conducted to answer the research questions. This included an online survey of university students across Canada (n= 331) and qualitative interviews (n= 14). Interview data from 14 students were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results from this study show that participants believe alcohol is less dangerous than other products with health warning labels, like cigarettes and vaping products. Participants believed that the government and alcohol manufacturers should be required to provide a health warning label on alcohol. Participants believed health warning labels including the number of standard drinks, the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines, and a health warning were valuable. Participants thought that these warnings were important, even if they did not believe that a health warning label would lead them to change their drinking habits. These findings are important to support the development of mandatory health warning labels for alcohol in Canada.
Recommended Citation
McEachran, Erin O. Ms, "The WARN Study: Investigating University Student Perceptions of Alcohol Risk and Health Warning Labels" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10629.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10629
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