Personalised digital interventions reduce hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption

There was moderate-quality evidence that DIs might lower alcohol consumption, at least for up to 6 months, with an average reduction of between 1 and 3 (UK) standard drinks per week compared with control participants. Positive differences in measures of drinking were seen at 1, 6 and 12 months after the advice. The higher end of this range was the result of the primary meta-analysis; the lower end was suggested by sensitivity analyses accounting for the risk of attrition and performance bias. Although small, the effect appeared robust. Low-quality evidence from fewer studies suggested there might be little or no difference in impact on alcohol consumption between digital and face-to-face interventions. There was not enough information to decide if advice was better from computers, telephones or the internet.