The Lower My Drinking campaign - which is also running across wider Cheshire and Merseyside - includes the launch of a new app.

The campaign encourages people to consider how much they drink. Downloading and using the app will help to put people in control of their drinking.

The initiative is being delivered by the Champs Public Health Collaborative, a long-standing partnership of Cheshire and Merseyside’s public health leaders.

Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, said: “Reducing the amount of alcohol we drink is a great way to improve our health and wellbeing and reduce health risks in the long term. That’s why it’s so important that we provide support to help people cut down.

“The Lower My Drinking app is a great way to get people thinking about how much they drink and what steps they may need to take to change their habits. It’s a valuable extra tool to help people reduce their alcohol intake and Sober October is the perfect time to give it a go.”

The initiative is being funded by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, the Integrated Care Board for the subregion which holds responsibility for planning NHS services, including Primary Care, community pharmacy and those previously planned by clinical commissioning groups.

Ian Ashworth, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Director of Population Health, said: “Reducing alcohol harm is a real priority in today’s world. Among people aged 15 to 49, alcohol is the leading risk factor for ill health, early mortality and disability, and in Cheshire and Merseyside over a quarter of the adult population consumes higher levels of alcohol than the recommended guidelines.

“Across our subregion alone it’s estimated to cost around £994 million each year across the NHS, social services, crime and licensing, and the workplace.”

The free Lower My Drinking app has been designed by clinical psychologists and behavioural scientists to put people in control of their drinking, but it does much more than just track how many units you have each day.

The campaign will be running across press, social media and in public places across Cheshire and Merseyside throughout the autumn and winter months. The creative has been produced by the Cheshire based advertising agency Thrive.

To download the app or find out more, please visit lowermydrinking-nhs.org.uk/

To learn more about the Champs Public Health Collaborative, please visit champspublichealth.com.

To learn more about NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, please visit cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/