Making sense of ‘‘drink responsibly’’ messages: Explorations of the understanding and interpretations of young Nigerians who use alcohol

Dumbili, Emeka W.; Uwa-Robinson, Kelechi; Odeigah, Ogochukwu W.

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103646

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The first identified theme was about ambiguity about alcohol labelling. Our findings reflect international studies showing that participants are critical of responsible drinking messages (Coomber et al, 2018; Dumbili et al, 2022) and build on research that shows people interpret this kind of message in relating to drinking consequences (Stautz & Marteau, 2016) by showing how justifying oneself as in control is also an important feature of responsibility.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Evidence from Australia suggests consumers are critical of responsible drinking messages, believing the alcohol industry is doing a bare minimum in terms of warning about risks (Coomber et al, 2017). Nigerian consumers interpreted such messages as confusing and positioned them in relation to unspecified personal limits (Dumbili et al, 2022). Responsible drinking messages may have negative effects.…”

Section: What Does This Study Add?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Davies

Cooke

Visser

et al. 2022

British J Health Psychol

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This study aimed to explore (a) how people interpret responsible drinking messages on alcohol product labels, and (b) the acceptability of including health information on labels. Design: Qualitative interviews. Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 people aged 21-63; 18 were classified risky drinkers using AUDIT-C. They were shown three sets of alcohol product labels: one including three responsible drinking messages (drink responsibly), one with three positively worded health messages (drinking less reduces risks) and one with three negatively worded health messages (drinking more increases risks). Health messages included information about cancer, liver and heart disease. Results: Thematic analysis identified three themes: ambiguity about alcohol labelling; identifying oneself as responsible; and acceptability of enhanced product labelling. Participants were critical of responsible drinking messages and wary of conflicting health information in the media. They positioned themselves as responsible, knowledgeable drinkers and distanced themselves from problem drinkers. They did not appear to support the inclusion of health information on labels; however, novel information was considered more impactful. Conclusions: Responsible drinking messages were seen by our sample as an alcohol industry ploy. Although health messages about cancer were seen as potentially impactful, the ability of consumers to position themselves as unproblematic drinkers means that they may not see the information

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: What Does This Study Add?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Davies

Cooke

Visser

et al. 2022

British J Health Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some of the specific questions and probes used to elicit information from participants include: ‘any time you hear about alcohol, what comes to your mind?’ ‘Who do you drink with?’ ‘Why do you drink with them?’ ‘Please, tell me, what type of alcohol do you drink?’ ‘Do you use any other type?’ ‘Why do you prefer that category of alcohol to others?’ ‘Is it because it is suitable for boys or girls?’ ‘Please, tell me the reason(s) for your choice.’ ‘How did you come to know about the brand/type you drink?’ ‘So, tell me, what quantity do you usually take on a drinking occasion?’ ‘Have you ever consumed more than planned?’ Participants' names and other identifiers have been anonymized. See Dumbili et al (2022a, 2022b) for more details on the methodology.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participants' names and other identifiers have been anonymized. See Dumbili et al (2022aDumbili et al ( , 2022b for more details on the methodology.…”

Section: Procedures Participants Interviews and Focus Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating Alcogenic Brand Environment: Exploring How Young Nigerians Negotiate and Make Sense of Alcohol Brand Preferences

Dumbili

Uwa-Robinson

2022

Journal of Drug Issues

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No previous research has examined how and why Nigerians choose their alcohol brands. Using qualitative data, this study explored brand preference and the reasons for brand choice among 18 to 24 year-old Nigerians who use alcohol. Participants were divided into three categories based on their beer, spirit, and wine preferences. While most men preferred beer and spirits, many women chose traditional and recently developed flavoured beers and spirit-based drinks, which the alcohol industry promotes as women-friendly alcoholic drinks. Some participants chose low-strength brands to avoid heavy drinking and intoxication, while others preferred high-strength brands for immediate bodily thrills/intoxication. Some participants preferred expensive brands to cheaper beverages to construct social identity and portray an affluent lifestyle, while others used the consumption of ‘foreign’ or uncommon brands to enact distinction. Alcohol advertising and peer influence significantly impacted brand awareness and preferences. Interventions should focus on reducing alcohol/brand availability and accessibility in Nigeria.

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“…Unfortunately, while alcohol availability/ consumption and related problems are increasing, there are no serious regulatory mechanisms through which to keep tabs on them. Nigeria has not implemented alcohol control policies (Morojele et al, 2021), and there are no specified standard drink measures or low-risk drinking guidelines to guide alcohol users (Dumbili et al, 2022b). The lack of policies has not only empowered the alcohol industry to promote self-regulation but has also created an environment for youth to drink and transgress the local consumption norms that encourage abstinence or moderation.…”

Section: Nigerian Drinking Normsmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Alcohol Helps to Stimulate and Violate the Air’: Drinking Games and Transgressive Drinking Practices among Nigerian Youth

Dumbili

2022

Sociological Research Online

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In traditional Nigeria, moderate drinking was normative among adult men who occupied drinking spaces. Heavy drinking and intoxication were transgressive behaviours that attracted sanctions. Alcohol consumption among youth was taboo in most communities. Nowadays, young people drink, and many construct identities with heavy drinking and intoxication. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with students and nonstudents in Benin City, I explore how young people’s participation in drinking games (DGs) facilitates heavy drinking, intoxication, and transgression of the local consumption norms. ‘Mere arguments’, betting, and assertions of masculinity initiate DGs, while fun, economic gain, and the construction of social identities motivate gameplaying. Aside from other DG categories, participants played a localized version of Truth-or-Dare, where losers are mandated to undress in public- or drink-specified quantities of alcohol. DGs were mostly played at bars and parties, which encouraged heavy drinking and drunkenness. DGs generate fun for players and partygoers; thus, party hosts often include gameplaying in party programmes. Winning a DG attracts titles like ‘boss’, ‘champion’, or ‘guru’ and a reputation among men. Therefore, they played DGs to reproduce/authenticate their masculinity and achieve such titles and prestige, while women mostly played DGs to win money, phones, and bags. Many participants’ gameplaying resulted in heavy drinking, intoxication, and loss of control that subverted the local consumption culture, which prohibits heavy drinking and promotes moderation. The findings demonstrate how transgressive behaviours can be enjoyable to transgressors and also function as resistance to social norms/structures that encourage dominance/inequalities.

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Making sense of ‘‘drink responsibly’’ messages: Explorations of the understanding and interpretations of young Nigerians who use alcohol

Cited by 16 publications

References 42 publications

Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Calling time on responsible drinking: A qualitative study of perceptions of information on alcohol product labels

Navigating Alcogenic Brand Environment: Exploring How Young Nigerians Negotiate and Make Sense of Alcohol Brand Preferences

‘Alcohol Helps to Stimulate and Violate the Air’: Drinking Games and Transgressive Drinking Practices among Nigerian Youth

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