CHEMISTS are to give free alcohol advice and treatment to help tackle the problem of binge drinking.

NHS Berkshire East and the Drug and Alcohol Action Teams from Slough, the Royal Borough and Bracknell Forest have been given a grant of £10,250 from the South East Alcohol Innovation Programme to provide alcohol identification and brief advice training to 25 pharmacies across east Berkshire.

The health trust hopes to help the estimated 60,000 people across the county who are drinking above a safe limit.

Eleven pharmacies from Windsor and Maidenhead, six from Slough and three from Bracknell Forest began training for the project last week.

Pharmacists will focus on patients with physical conditions such as hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, liver conditions or diabetes which can be exacerbated by alcohol, as well as those with mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. Diane Clemison, public health specialist nurse for NHS Berkshire East, said: "Excessive drinking is a growing problem, which we are trying to tackle head-on.

"What concerns me is the number of people who are drinking above and beyond what they should be drinking but actually don't know about it.

"It's a lifestyle disease. We're into a culture where it's a norm to drink every evening.

"What we're trying to do is make people aware of what they're drinking and how much they're drinking." Lorette Sanders, primary care pharmacist at NHS Berkshire East, said: "Our network of local pharmacies are really excited about taking on this role.

"They are at the heart of our communities and well placed to offer professional, confidential advice and support about alcohol as well as many other health issues."