Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32079562›Full record

SynthesisJournal of studies on alcohol and drugs. Supplement2020

Exposure to Digital Alcohol Marketing and Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review.

Jonathan K Noel, Cara J Sammartino, Samantha R Rosenthal

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. Supplement, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 50 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
50citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

50 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. The Relationship Between Exposure to Alcohol Marketing and Underage Drinking Is Causal.Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. Supplement · 2020
    Pooled it
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  7. When Risk Is Invisible: Alcohol-Cancer Communication on Social Media.Alcohol, clinical & experimental research · 2026
    Article
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  13. Online Searches for Gun-Related Harm.JAMA network open · 2026
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jonathan K NoelDepartment of Health Science, College of Health & Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Cara J SammartinoDepartment of Health Science, College of Health & Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Samantha R RosenthalDepartment of Health Science, College of Health & Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Funding

Alcohol Marketing and Underage DrinkingR01AA021347 · NIAAA · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · PI SARGENT, JAMES D. · 2013 to 2017
$2.9M
NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA021347
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAlcohol marketing has proliferated on digital media, such as websites, social media, and apps. A systematic review was conducted to examine studies of associations between exposure to digital alcohol marketing and alcohol consumption.

methodEight electronic databases were searched for "alcohol" and "marketing" through 14 February 2017. Studies were included if exposure to digital alcohol marketing and alcohol consumption, or related attitudes and intentions, were assessed. Studies were excluded if they only measured exposure to alcohol depictions posted online by family and friends. Study quality was also assessed.

resultsIn all, 25 studies were included, including 2 randomized controlled trials, 15 cross-sectional studies, and 8 prospective cohort studies. There was a consistent finding across studies that participation and engagement with digital alcohol marketing--such as clicking on an alcohol ad, visiting an alcohol-branded website, liking or sharing an ad on social media, or downloading alcohol-branded content--was positively associated with alcohol use. The effects of simple exposure to digital alcohol advertising were inconclusive. Proper blinding of subjects, measuring exposures before the outcomes, and measuring the exposures multiple times would improve study quality.

conclusionsAlthough more research is needed, existing studies suggest that engagement with digital alcohol marketing is positively associated with increased alcohol consumption and increased binge or hazardous drinking behavior. Governments should consider implementing digital alcohol marketing regulations under the precautionary principle as the alcohol industry's self-regulated marketing codes are likely ineffective at protecting populations vulnerable to alcohol-related harm.

Indexed as

InternetAdolescentAdvertisingAlcohol DrinkingConsumer BehaviorFemaleHumansMaleMarketingSocial MediaUnderage DrinkingYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID32079562
PMCPMC7064004

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.