Jul 06, 2015 11:01 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

A smartphone app could help people better manage their alcohol intake, according to a recent study.

The Alcohol Tracker, which has been developed by doctors and based on clinical evidence, warns drinkers if they go over the recommended maximum daily/weekly units of alcohol.

According to the developers of the new app, excess alcohol kills millions worldwide every year, but many available smartphone apps to manage drinking are not informed by clinical evidence and are largely for entertainment. They said some apps even seem to promote rather than curb drinking.

The main objective of The Alcohol Tracker is to curb drinking. It does this be enabling users to log the number of beers/shots/glasses of wine they have knocked back on a given day which it then tots up for them in units. When the recommended daily or weekly limits have been exceeded, the app issues a warning.

The limits are defined by the recommended safe intake for men and women, stipulated by national guidance in the UK (NICE) and Canada.

The app also provides links to alcohol helplines and built-in psychological therapies, such as a behavioral goals aid. A validated questionnaire enables users to find out if their drinking puts them at risk.

More information on The Alcohol Tracker can be found in the online journal BMJ Innovations.

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