Drinkaware partners with Morrisons as store pharmacies offer free Drinking Check

• Leading alcohol-harm charity Drinkaware has partnered with Morrisons to roll out their free Drinking Check across all 117 in-store pharmacies in the UK. 

• Customers will be offered to complete the Drinking Check by pharmacists to assess their drinking habits.  

• With 82% of adults unaware of the Chief Medical Officer’s drinking guidelines of 14 units per week, this initiative aims to raise awareness and normalise checking your drinking.  

• More than half (56%) of drinkers said they intend to reduce their alcohol consumption in 2025 according to a survey by Drinkaware.

Drinkaware has started the new year by partnering with supermarket giant Morrisons to roll out their free Drinking Check across all 117 in-store pharmacies in the UK. Pharmacists will use the tool to assess peoples drinking habits. 

The Drinking Check is a quick, three-minute online quiz that provides a personalised drinking score. It helps people understand the impact of their drinking habits on their health and offers tailored advice and support for those who want to moderate their drinking. 

Following the festive period - when almost two-thirds (64%) of UK drinkers intended to drink more alcohol than they typically would at other times of the year – the partnership comes at a good moment, particularly as more than half (56%) of drinker's plan to cut down their alcohol consumption in 2025. 

The partnership has involved Drinkaware providing bespoke training on how to use the Drinking Check to all participating pharmacists. The initiative will also see posters and leaflets distributed across all 117 store pharmacies to encourage customers to check their drinking. 

Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware, said: 

“We are thrilled to be kicking off the new year by partnering with supermarket giant Morrisons to help customers learn more about their drinking habits, especially after the festive season when we know people tend to drink more.

“As many as 82% of adults are unaware of the Chief Medical Officer’s drinking guidelines of 14 units per week, so it’s crucial we reach as many people as possible. 

“By pharmacies offering the Drinking Check to customers as a way to assess their drinking, it’s a step towards normalising the regular checking of drinking habits. People routinely visit the doctors to check their blood pressure or cholesterol, so why shouldn’t the same apply to alcohol? 

“Now more than ever, it’s important to empower individuals to make informed decisions when it comes to drinking. Partnerships like this help us do exactly that.” 

John Parry, Head of Pharmacy & Popular Services at Morrisons, said: 

"We know that lots of our customers are looking at ways to make healthier choices and so are pleased to be partnering with the charity Drinkaware in all our pharmacies.” 

You can take the free Drinkaware Drinking Check by visiting: www.drinkaware.co.uk  

The Drinking Check is based on the internationally recognised World Health Organisation (WHO) Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) which is used by medical professionals across the world to check the risk of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol dependence.   

Five Top Tips to help you moderate your drinking and keep within the Chief Medical Officer’s low risk guidelines.