Effectiveness of health warning labels on alcoholic beverages: A systematic review with a narrative analysis for Austria

This research project addresses the high level of alcohol consumption in Austria, which is one of the leading countries in Europe for per capita alcohol use, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its World Health Statistics Report 2025. The health risks associated with increased alcohol consumption are diverse and, in some cases, manifest only later in life. Alcohol-associated cancers have become an increasing focus of research, as excessive alcohol consumption is strongly linked to a higher risk of developing several types of cancer. In line with the WHO’s goal to reduce harmful alcohol consumption by 10% by 2030, this project systematically reviews and analyses the effectiveness of health warning labels on alcoholic beverages. As these labels can vary in terms of format and design, the ad-dressed target group as well as the content conveyed, this project focuses on identifying which types of health warning labels on alcoholic beverages are described and recommended in the scientific literature. Furthermore, it evaluates their impact on health-related and economic outcomes, like perception of health risks associated with alcohol, attitudes towards and beliefs about alcohol consumption, shifts in intension and behaviour regarding alcohol consumption and the incidence of alcohol-related diseases. Finally, the findings are contextualised for Austria by discussing, which recommendations can be derived for the implementation of health warning labels on alcoholic beverages aimed at the general population.