Drink Less

Description:

Drink Less is an app developed for iOS devices that aims to help users reduce their alcohol consumption. The app asks users to set personal goals by which they would like to cut down their alcohol consumption and provides them access to five modules, each of which contain a number of behavioural change techniques (self-monitoring and feedback, action planning, normative feedback, cognitive bias re-training and identity change). Users can keep track of their alcohol consumption and monitor how this changes over time, set goals and targets to drink less and receive feedback on their progress as well as take part in activities, exercises and games that help them better understand hangovers, how to tackle situations in which they are tempted to consume more alcohol and developing a resolve to drink less in order to change their relationship with alcohol overall. The app is designed to give feedback on progress towards goals and targets but does not include any human component to it.

Service URL:

http://www.drinklessalcohol.com/

Agency Responsible:

University College London (UCL).

Mobile Platform:

Apple.

Details

Format:

Smartphone Application.

Intervention Type:

Other. DBCI - digital behavior change intervention

Course Structure:

Structured Course.

Course Length:

Moderate (2-5 modules). 5 modules

Support Option:

Automated only.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Alcohol.

Target Audience:

Adult. hazardous and harmful alcohol drinkers aged 18 and over

Language:

English.

Access

Mobile platforms:

Apple:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/drink-less-get-help-reducing/id1020579244?mt=8

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

support@drinklessalcohol.com

Research evidence

Research Trials:

0

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

 A research trial is underway evaluating the effectiveness of the app in reducing excessive alcohol consumption. Participants are 672 adults in the UK who are prone to hazardous and harmful drinking, randomized to one of 32 experimental conditions after having downloaded the app. The primary outcome measure is a change in past week consumption of alcohol. 

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Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

Garnett, C., Crane, D., Michie, S., West, R., & Brown, J. (2016). Evaluating the effectiveness of a smartphone app to reduce excessive alcohol consumption: protocol for a factorial randomised control trial. BMC Public Health, 16, 536. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3140-8