Bad teeth images cut sugary drink sales

♦ Photos of tooth decay and obesity on sugary drink bottles could reduce sales by 14 per cent, a study by Harvard University has suggested.

Researchers carried out a study in a hospital cafeteria in Massachusetts to find out whether warning labels, calorie information or images had an impact on buying habits. The findings, published online in Psychological Science, showed that, during the weeks when graphic warnings were displayed, the share of sugarsweetened beverages purchased declined by 14.8 per cent.

The text warnings and calorie labels did not have a significant effect on beverage purchasing.