The UK’s government-backed health initiative Change4Life has launched a new smartphone app to show the impact of alcohol of people’s health.
The free app offers a drinks’ checker, in conjunction with advice on cutting back, and is available for Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod touch as well as Android devices.
Its accessible either via the Change4Life or NHS Choices websites, both of which feature the new NHS one-minute ‘sneaky drinks’ TV advert.
This warns the public about the ‘hidden harms’ of regularly drinking more than the national guidelines and how “the odd glass can quickly become two or three glasses, most evenings”.
Aside from the link with liver disease and pancreatitis, regular consumption of two large glasses of wine or two pints of strong lager a day could increase the occurrence of mouth cancer three-fold. The impact in terms of calorie intake is also emphasised.
It is thought that over 9m people in England alone are potentially putting their health at risk by regularly drinking above the guidelines. However, a YouGov survey in 2011 found that most people are unaware of the serious health problems linked to drinking in excess.
Change4Life was launched by the Department of Health in September 2008 and works with national partners, including commercial companies, other government departments and NGOs to increase health awareness across England and Wales and ultimately improve health outcomes.