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 drinking 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 drinking from smaller glasses than from larger glasses (95% CI = -517 to 10 ml; −13.2 to 0.3%; P = 0.065; BF = 2.96).Conclusions: Using smaller glasses to drink wine at home may reduce consumption.Greater uncertainty remains around the possible effect of drinking from smaller bottles.

Impact of Sizes of Servings, Glasses and Bottles on Alcohol Consumption: A Narrative Review

“…We screened the titles and abstracts of 800 reports and identified 10 eligible published papers reporting 15 studies [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ] and one review [ 25 ].…”

“…A classification of the different sizing interventions for reducing alcohol consumption and of the identified evidence is shown in Figure 1 . Four studies altered serving sizes [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], eight studies and the review focused on altering glass sizes [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 25 ], two studies altered bottle sizes [ 19 , 20 ] and one altered both glass and bottle sizes [ 21 ]. Twelve studies and the review focused on wine consumption [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 25 ] one study focused on beer consumption [ 24 ] and two focused on both wine and beer consumption with combined results reported [ 22 ].…”

“…Five papers reporting nine primary studies [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 21 ] and one review [ 25 ] assessed the impact of different glass sizes on alcohol sales [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 25 ] and consumption [ 21 ]. The review [ 25 ] combined eight data sets—in a mega-analysis—generated as part of studies reported in three previously published papers [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…The review [ 25 ] combined eight data sets—in a mega-analysis—generated as part of studies reported in three previously published papers [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Eight studies [ 16 , 17 , 18 ] were conducted in bars and restaurants and one in homes [ 21 ]. All targeted wine.…”

“…On average, 6.5% (95% CI −13.2, 0.3%) less wine was consumed when drinking from smaller than from larger glasses, a difference that was not statistically significant. When taking into consideration whether participants reported any mitigating factors perceived to have affected their wine consumption, such as illness or being away from home, the effect of glass size became slightly larger—6.7% (%95 CI –12.9%, −0.45)—and statistically significant [ 21 ].…”