Pharmacists in north east Scotland are set to pilot a service to help customers reduce their alcohol consumption.

Twenty Grampian pharmacies are expected to take part in a University of Aberdeen study to determine if a pharmacist intervention reduces customers' drinking. Those whose answers signal possible hazardous alcohol consumption will be given a pharmacy consultation. The effect this has on customers' drinking habits will be followed against a control group not given the consultation.

Pharmacy customers asking for smoking cessation advice, EHC, or remedies for conditions such as hangovers, headaches, indigestion, sleep disturbance or stress will be asked to complete a four-question screening tool.

If the pilot indicates an intervention in community pharmacies is an effective and cost effective way of reducing alcohol consumption, it will be expanded into a larger study.

Lead researcher Margaret Watson hopes the pilot will lead to wider rollout of alcohol interventions. "We want to drive definitive evidence… so that the government recognises the value of community pharmacy providing this service and expanding the reach of it, because you can only reach so much of the population through the traditional routes," Dr Watson told C+D.