Hi Neil,
Following your request the other day I had a go at completing the Drinkaware test. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools/drinking-check#/
I tried it on my phone and on my laptop. I don't drink, so made up personal details and followed your suggestions.
On my first attempt the "traffic light" system said "lower risk" on both phone AND laptop. HOWEVER, the additional text that accompanied it on my phone said POSSIBLE DEPENDENCE. This made me think there might be a serious technical glitch rather than deliberate misinformation.
Therefore I tried again a little more systematically. I couldn't reproduce the issue of a different result on the phone vs laptop. In all cases I got 6 points and was categorised as lower risk - below is the summary of my exploration.
My answers (for the sake of testing the survey):
- How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? 4 or more times/week
- How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day when you are drinking? 5- 6 U/day
- All remaining questions - never
As I said above, I got the same result in each case:
Iphone 13 promax/chrome:
1. Age 21, female
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
2. Age 21, male
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
3. Age 60, female
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
4. Age 60, male
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
Laptop/windows 365/chrome
5. Age 21, female
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
6. Age 21, male
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
7. Age 60, female
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
8. Age 60, male
- Traffic light system: 6 points, green, lower risk
- Your result, additional text: relates to lower risk
It will be interesting to see what others find and to learn if this is a glitch, misinformation or the actual recommendations.
Best wishes
Julie
HIFA profile: Julie N Reza is a UK-based specialist in communications for biosciences, global health & international development (www.globalbiomedia.co.uk). She predominantly works with NGOs and not-for-profit organisations. Previously she was the senior science editor at TDR, based at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva; prior to this she worked at the Wellcome Trust, UK, leading educational projects on international health topics including trypanosomiasis and trachoma. She has a PhD in immunology and a specialist degree in science communication. She also has several years research and postgraduate teaching experience. She is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and HIFA Social Media Working Group. www.hifa.org/people/steering-group www.hifa.org/people/social-media naimareza AT hotmail.com
