Rotherham Council has encouraged its residents to use the DrinkCoach digital service to manage their drinking habits to stay healthy.
It has partnered with the Humankind charity that runs the service through a website and mobile app, to help people assess the risk in their drinking and receive personalised advice online.
Under the arrangement, Rotherham residents will be able to access free confidential coaching sessions through video calls.
The service also includes an alcohol test, a ‘coachbot’ to help users explore any changes they could make, and details of local options for advice and support.
Rotherham Council said the move is intended to provide a more accessible way of getting support for problem drinkers. It cited Office for Health Improvement and Disparities estimates that for every increasing and higher risk drinker to receive brief advice there is a £27 cost saving to the health and social care economy.
Devastating effects
Its cabinet member for adult social care and public health, Cllr David Roche, urged drinkers to take the online test and said: “Alcohol dependency can have devastating effects on people’s lives, affecting their health, their jobs, and their financial situation.
“However, there is support available – whatever your background or dependency level, you can get tailored and compassionate advice and support through DrinkCoach.”
