Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology

In Europe, alcohol-related diseases have an increasingly high impact on healthcare costs every year. Hence, rising consumer consciousness regarding the risks and harms of drinking alcohol is a primary goal of the EU Commission. Recently, the Commission has been discussing the mandatory adoption of h...

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Main Authors: Francesco Solfanelli, Serena Mandolesi, Ileana Silvestri, Simona Naspetti, Raffaele Zanoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Firenze University Press 2025-02-01
Series:Wine Economics and Policy
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Online Access:https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/wep/article/view/17056
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author Francesco Solfanelli
Serena Mandolesi
Ileana Silvestri
Simona Naspetti
Raffaele Zanoli
author_facet Francesco Solfanelli
Serena Mandolesi
Ileana Silvestri
Simona Naspetti
Raffaele Zanoli
author_sort Francesco Solfanelli
collection DOAJ
description In Europe, alcohol-related diseases have an increasingly high impact on healthcare costs every year. Hence, rising consumer consciousness regarding the risks and harms of drinking alcohol is a primary goal of the EU Commission. Recently, the Commission has been discussing the mandatory adoption of health-warning labels (HWLs) on all alcoholic beverages, including wine. This study investigated expert and non-expert perceptions of adopting health-warning labels on wine bottles. The research used Q methodology, a mixed-method approach to explore subjective viewpoints regarding adopting health-warning labels for the wine sector. Respondents were evenly distributed among wine experts and consumers. The results provided four different views based on participants’ perceptions of HWLs. Factor 1 (the “Nationalism” view) strongly opposes the proposal, which is considered extremely dangerous for the entire wine market. Factor 2 (the “Market-oriented” view) believes that health warnings will increase transparency in the market and help consumers make informed choices, thereby respecting consumer autonomy. Factor 3 (the “Health-first” view) strongly believes that informing consumers through health labels on all alcoholic beverages is necessary to protect public health. Lastly, Factor 4 (the “Keep Us Alive” view) underestimates warning labels’ effectiveness in promoting the right behaviours. The findings highlight different “sides” of this debating topic and provide valuable insight into how policymakers can investigate new strategies, always considering and respecting consumer choice.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2213-3968
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-bac6a9a9cd2a40eb802d288d26f6526c2025-08-20T03:28:09ZengFirenze University PressWine Economics and Policy2213-39682212-97742025-02-0114110.36253/wep-17056Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodologyFrancesco Solfanelli0Serena Mandolesi1Ileana Silvestri2Simona Naspetti3Raffaele Zanoli4Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell’Ambiente ed Urbanistica (SIMAU), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali (D3A), Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyIn Europe, alcohol-related diseases have an increasingly high impact on healthcare costs every year. Hence, rising consumer consciousness regarding the risks and harms of drinking alcohol is a primary goal of the EU Commission. Recently, the Commission has been discussing the mandatory adoption of health-warning labels (HWLs) on all alcoholic beverages, including wine. This study investigated expert and non-expert perceptions of adopting health-warning labels on wine bottles. The research used Q methodology, a mixed-method approach to explore subjective viewpoints regarding adopting health-warning labels for the wine sector. Respondents were evenly distributed among wine experts and consumers. The results provided four different views based on participants’ perceptions of HWLs. Factor 1 (the “Nationalism” view) strongly opposes the proposal, which is considered extremely dangerous for the entire wine market. Factor 2 (the “Market-oriented” view) believes that health warnings will increase transparency in the market and help consumers make informed choices, thereby respecting consumer autonomy. Factor 3 (the “Health-first” view) strongly believes that informing consumers through health labels on all alcoholic beverages is necessary to protect public health. Lastly, Factor 4 (the “Keep Us Alive” view) underestimates warning labels’ effectiveness in promoting the right behaviours. The findings highlight different “sides” of this debating topic and provide valuable insight into how policymakers can investigate new strategies, always considering and respecting consumer choice. https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/wep/article/view/17056health-warning labelslabellingwineattitudesQ methodology
spellingShingle Francesco Solfanelli
Serena Mandolesi
Ileana Silvestri
Simona Naspetti
Raffaele Zanoli
Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
Wine Economics and Policy
health-warning labels
labelling
wine
attitudes
Q methodology
title Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
title_full Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
title_fullStr Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
title_full_unstemmed Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
title_short Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
title_sort debating wine health warning labels using q methodology
topic health-warning labels
labelling
wine
attitudes
Q methodology
url https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/wep/article/view/17056
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AT simonanaspetti debatingwinehealthwarninglabelsusingqmethodology
AT raffaelezanoli debatingwinehealthwarninglabelsusingqmethodology