Alcohol app could save 4,500 lives, study finds

A smartphone app designed to help people reduce their alcohol intake could save lives and cut hospital admissions, according to experts in Sheffield.

The Drink Less app, developed at University College London, allows users to track their drinking and aims to help them change their attitudes towards alcohol.

A study led by the University of Sheffield found national promotion of the app could prevent an estimated 4,500 deaths and 188,400 hospital admissions over the next 20 years, saving the NHS £500m.

Colin Angus, professor of alcohol policy at the university, said digital intervention tools had the potential to "play a crucial role".

Heavy drinking increased sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, and alcohol-related deaths have continued to rise since then, Mr Angus said.

He said there had been a 42% increase since 2019, with 23 people dying in England every day as a direct result of their drinking.

Mr Angus suggested the ongoing impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis remained contributing factors.

He said: "It's certainly the case that different people have had very different experiences over the last few years, and for some people they will have been very, very challenging.

"We know a lot of people in those circumstances do turn to alcohol, and that's part of the picture."

The research suggested the Drink Less app was particularly effective when integrated into primary care settings, such as GPs recommending it to patients.

Broadcaster Adrian Chiles previously told the BBC he had used the app to help him cut back on his weekly alcohol intake.

Dr Claire Garnett, research fellow at the University of Bristol and chief investigator on the trial, said: "By making tools, like Drink Less, readily available and integrating them into existing healthcare systems, we can not only improve people's individual health outcomes, but also contribute to a more equitable and healthier society."

But she acknowledged health apps "don't suit everyone".

She said: "We need a national strategy to address alcohol harm that also includes other effective interventions and policies, such as making alcohol less cheap and less available, less heavily marketed, and improving access to alcohol treatment and support."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.