Alcohol Literacy Challenge
Problems addressed
Alcohol abuse
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Where the program was applied
Education establishment
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a school program with a multimedia literacy approach. The aim is to change students’ expectations regarding alcohol consumption. The program can be adapted for both university students and high school students aged 14 to 24.
The curriculum is designed not to erase previous expectations of alcohol, but rather to introduce new information about its negative effects. The program provides students with a summary of empirical research that attempts to distinguish between the pharmacological and expectancy effects of alcohol.
Students then watch four video ads about alcohol consumption (approximately 1.5 to 2 minutes long) and are asked to identify positive and exciting expectations in each ad. The expectations are contrasted with the scientific evidence presented earlier. Participants discuss the difference between the expectations shown in the ads and the pharmacological effects of alcohol consumption.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that university students who participated in the program demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in alcohol consumption and in their expectation of consumption. There was no statistically significant impact on high school students [1] [2] [3].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Fried, A. (2010). Evaluation of an Expectancy Challenge Presentation In Reducing High-risk Alcohol Use Among Greek Affiliated College Students [thesis]. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5428&context=…

[2] Fried, A. B. & Dunn, M. E. (2012). The Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC): A single session group intervention to reduce alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors : Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 26(3), 615–620. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027585

[3] Dietz, A. (2016). Evaluation of the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) for High School Students [dissertation]. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6099&context=…

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