BBC News Online: Health

Online drink counselling service

The website offers practical help and advice

The "Downyourdrink" website, run by the Alcohol Education and Research Council, claims to be completely confidential and offers advice 24 hours a day.

Users can even opt to take a six week course modelled on an established paper-based programme aimed at reducing drinking levels.

They are encouraged to set drinking targets, and receive individual feedback on their progress.

'Responsible adults'

Baroness Shreela Flather, the Chairman of the AERC, said: "This programme will provide help for many people who feel they might be drinking more than they should and want to do something about it.

"It treats people as responsible adults and helps them make choices that can benefit them physically and financially.

"I just hope that GPs and other health professionals will help to publicise the site."

In the UK, it is estimated that 27% of men and 13% of women are exceeding the current recommended "sensible drinking limits".

These suggest that men should be drinking no more than eight units a week, and women no more than six, where a unit is equivalent to half a pint of beer, a glass of wine, or a measure of spirits.

Visitors to the web-site can take a brief quiz which assesses how much impact their alcohol intake is likely to be having on their lives.