This study found that using smaller glasses to use wine at home may reduce consumption. Greater uncertainty remains around the possible effect of using smaller bottles.

Author

Eleni Mantzari, Minna Ventsel, Jennifer Ferrar, Mark A. Pilling, Gareth J. Hollands and Theresa M. Marteau (email: tm388@cam.ac.uk)

Citation

Mantzari, E., Ventsel, M., Ferrar, J., Pilling, M., Hollands, G. and Marteau, T., 2022. Impact of wine bottle and glass sizes on wine consumption at home: a within‐ and between‐ households randomized controlled trial. Addiction,.

Source
Addiction
Release date
18/07/2022

Impact of Wine Bottle and Glass Sizes on Wine Consumption at Home: A Within- And Between- Households Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background and aims

Reducing alcohol consumption across populations would decrease the risk of a range of diseases, including many cancers, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the current study was to estimate the impact of using smaller bottles (37.5- versus 75-cl) and glasses (290 versus 370 ml) on consuming wine at home.

Design

Randomized controlled trial of households with cross-over randomization to bottle size and parallel randomization to glass size.

Setting

UK households.

Participants

A total of 260 households consuming at least two 75-cl bottles of wine each week, recruited from the general population through a research agency. The majority consisted of adults who were white and of higher socio-economic position.

Intervention

Households were randomized to the order in which they purchased wine in 37.5- or 75-cl bottles, to consume during two 14-day intervention periods, and further randomized to receive smaller (290 ml) or larger (350 ml) glasses to use during both intervention periods.

Measurements

Volume (ml) of study wine consumed at the end of each 14-day intervention period, measured using photographs of purchased bottles, weighed on study scales.

Findings

Of the randomized households, 217 of 260 (83%) completed the study as per protocol and were included in the primary analysis.

There was weak evidence that smaller bottles reduced consumption: after accounting for pre-specified covariates, households consumed on average 145.7 ml (3.6%) less wine when consuming from smaller bottles than from larger bottles [95% confidence intervals (CI) = –335.5 to 43. ml; −8.3 to 1.1%; P = 0.137; Bayes factor (BF) = 2.00].

The evidence for the effect of smaller glasses was stronger: households consumed on average 253.3 ml (6.5%) less wine when consuming from smaller glasses than from larger glasses (95% CI = –517 to 10 ml; −13.2 to 0.3%; P = 0.065; BF = 2.96).

6.5%
Less wine consumed when using smaller glasses
This study found strong evidence for the effect of using smaller glasses: Households consumed on average 253.3 ml (6.5%) less wine when using smaller glasses than from larger glasses.

Conclusions

Using smaller glasses to use wine at home may reduce consumption. Greater uncertainty remains around the possible effect of using smaller bottles.

Source Website: Wiley Online Library