SURREY’S ‘Ocado drinkers’ are to be given help over Skype to tackle alcohol misuse.

Almost 30 per cent of adults in the county have a ‘harmful’ drinking problem, according to a health report.

A panel of health experts heard that is around 257,000 people in the county, with many being ‘affluent’ residents. A new Skype-based coaching programme is to be piloted to help people tackle alcohol misuse.

Surrey County Council’s Health and Well-being Board heard outlines for the scheme at its meeting in June.

They heard the problems with the amount of ‘harmful drinkers’ was often known as ‘Ocado drinkers’ because it affected the more affluent and well-off.

The DrinkCoach pilot will be carried out by Surrey Heartlands – the devolved health partnerships of NHS, care organisations and council bodies in the county.

It will be aimed at higher risk drinkers and involve three to six 40-minute motivational interviewing sessions over Skype by alcohol specialists.

The sessions use standard motivational interviewing techniques to support individuals to reduce their drinking to lower risk levels.

They focus on reviewing the person’s drinking levels, exploring their relationship with alcohol, setting desired goals and supporting them to achieve them.

Sessions are completely confidential and free to all those who meet the inclusion criteria who are residents of Surrey Heartlands.

DrinkCoach sessions are available at evenings and weekends allowing those in employment, housebound, and/or with caring or parental responsibilities access to the service.

Figures in the report presented to the board suggest advice and intervention similar to this can reduce weekly drinking by between 13 and 34 per cent resulting in three to nine fewer drinks per week.

This can then reduce risk of alcohol-related conditions by 14 per cent and risk of alcohol-related death by 20 per cent.