SMART ALCOHOL LABELLING
Folium Optics and the University of Bristol work together to test smart alcohol labels
Approximately one in ten cases of ill-health or death in England can be attributed to alcohol. However, unlike for food, sugary drinks and tobacco, there is limited information available about what is in alcoholic drinks or their potential harm.
Policy makers have suggested that all alcohol labels should include information about units (strength) and calories as well as health-related messages
To this end, in September 2017 the University of Bristol conceived a new and exciting concept to measure alcohol consumption, partnering with Folium Optics to create a prototype device.
A new approach to monitoring alcohol consumption
The initial concept from the University of Bristol’s Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group (TARG) was to find new ways to communicate messages about alcohol consumption to users
Our background in cutting-edge display technology made us the ideal choice for the project. The initial prototype was designed to use the latest in innovative plastic displays to communicate these messages about alcohol consumption directly on the drinker’s glass.
Approximately one in ten cases of ill-health or death in England can be attributed to alcohol. However, unlike for food, sugary drinks and tobacco, there is limited information available about what is in alcoholic drinks or their potential harm.
Policy makers have suggested that all alcohol labels should include information about units (strength) and calories as well as health-related messages
To this end, in September 2017 the University of Bristol conceived a new and exciting concept to measure alcohol consumption, partnering with Folium Optics to create a prototype device.
A new approach to monitoring alcohol consumption
The initial concept from the University of Bristol’s Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group (TARG) was to find new ways to communicate messages about alcohol consumption to users
Our background in cutting-edge display technology made us the ideal choice for the project. The initial prototype was designed to use the latest in innovative plastic displays to communicate these messages about alcohol consumption directly on the drinker’s glass.
A better way to reduce alcohol intake
Better labelling of unit and calorie information has had little impact on the problem of alcohol consumption. So the University of Bristol TARG is looking for a way to not only monitor unit intake, but also to encourage a more healthy approach to drinking, as Principal Investigator, Dr Angela Attwood, explains:
“Alcohol remains a public health concern, but how alcohol affects the average drinker and the amount that is considered problematic for health are not well understood. Digital labelling could be a highly effective and flexible way of keeping track of consumption and of communicating the harms associated with alcohol consumption."
Improving understanding of alcohol
Folium Optics has been invited by the University of Bristol to host a stall at a public engagement event at the Bristol Watershed on 26th March 2018, where we hope to get direct feedback on our glass prototype and showcase our range of health products. We’re proud to continue working on this important research project, as CEO of Folium Optics, Steve Kitson, explains:
“We’re excited to work with the University of Bristol on this challenging problem. We are passionate about making innovative plastic technology solutions. It’s an honour to be able to design and produce alongside their team”.
We can quickly develop these connected-solution prototypes using our in-house fabrication and design capabilities – keeping turnaround fast, removing the need for large production runs and assisting the research team to turn their concept into a reality as efficiently as possible.
Better labelling of unit and calorie information has had little impact on the problem of alcohol consumption. So the University of Bristol TARG is looking for a way to not only monitor unit intake, but also to encourage a more healthy approach to drinking, as Principal Investigator, Dr Angela Attwood, explains:
“Alcohol remains a public health concern, but how alcohol affects the average drinker and the amount that is considered problematic for health are not well understood. Digital labelling could be a highly effective and flexible way of keeping track of consumption and of communicating the harms associated with alcohol consumption."
Improving understanding of alcohol
Folium Optics has been invited by the University of Bristol to host a stall at a public engagement event at the Bristol Watershed on 26th March 2018, where we hope to get direct feedback on our glass prototype and showcase our range of health products. We’re proud to continue working on this important research project, as CEO of Folium Optics, Steve Kitson, explains:
“We’re excited to work with the University of Bristol on this challenging problem. We are passionate about making innovative plastic technology solutions. It’s an honour to be able to design and produce alongside their team”.
We can quickly develop these connected-solution prototypes using our in-house fabrication and design capabilities – keeping turnaround fast, removing the need for large production runs and assisting the research team to turn their concept into a reality as efficiently as possible.