AI chatbots could help curb risky drinking

A new report from alcohol charity Adfam, the University of Sussex and social enterprise Clean Slate Clinic warns that an “iron triangle” of cost, stigma and poor access is trapping heavy drinkers in the UK workforce, with serious consequences for health and the economy.

Based on polling of more than 2,000 UK adults, The Silent Crisis report finds that a growing share of alcohol-related harm is occurring among people who are working full time jobs and economically active, with problematic drinking levels being “common” among workers earning £50,000 or more per annum.

Work pressure emerged as the single biggest driver of risky drinking, with 27% of high-risk full-time workers citing work pressures as the main reason they drink at harmful levels. However, fear of career damage, difficulty taking time off, long NHS waiting lists, high private rehab costs and stigma all prevent people from seeking support, leaving alcohol dependence estimated to cost England £27.4bn a year.

Associate Professor Faith Matcham, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sussex and lead researcher on the study, said “Encouragingly, a substantial proportion of people drinking at potentially harmful levels are open to virtual treatment and AI-based support. This suggests there is a clear opportunity to integrate chatbot technology into existing digital alcohol interventions in a way that aligns with users’ preferences and needs.

“The data show that openness to AI-supported alcohol care is not confined to one demographic group. In fact, willingness was higher in some groups who also face greater structural barriers to care, reinforcing the role digital tools could play in improving equity of access to support.

“By embedding AI chatbots into established digital treatment pathways, we have an opportunity to create scalable, stigma-reducing support that meets people where they are – especially those who might otherwise delay or avoid seeking help.”

The report suggests medically supervised, home-based detox supported by remote clinical monitoring as a way to break the ‘iron triangle’, cutting detox costs by up to 85% while allowing people to stay in work. Former Health Minister and psychiatrist Dan Poulter says tech-enabled care could prevent rising NHS costs, lost productivity and avoidable late-stage illness.