A QUARTER of drinkers in the North West who vowed to start the year booze free have already fallen off the wagon. 

Research commissioned by online doctor service Pharmacy2U revealed that one in ten adults had planned to remain alcohol-free as part of 'Dry January'.

But the start has not been as ‘dry’ as expected though, with 25 per cent of those who challenged themselves not to drink any alcohol during January, admitting they have 'given in'. 

However, the Northwest appears to have done better than other areas of Britain – which racked up a failure rate of 52 per cent.

Worryingly, the research found alcohol is causing problems for more than one in seven North West drinkers (15%), with issues including relationship conflict and health problems.

One in eight (13%) claimed to drink more than half a bottle of wine or three pints of beer most nights.

Nearly one in five (18%) said they were concerned about a loved one's drinking.

Dr Nitin Shori, medical director of Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service, said: "It's a month when the nation talks more openly about their drinking habits, thanks to the dry January trend.

"While most don’t need or want to cut out alcohol in the long-term, it gets people thinking about how much they usually drink and whether they’d benefit from cutting down.

"It also proves how easy it is to give in to temptation!

"An unhealthy relationship with alcohol and regularly drinking too much can affect health and wellbeing, as well as impacting wider aspects of life too.

"We're seeing increasing numbers of patients seeking help from our online doctor service to reduce their alcohol intake – particularly since the launch of the Selincro pill last year, which helps to lessen the desire for a drink.

"Many find themselves in a pattern of excess drinking that’s difficult to break.

"Recognising there's a problem can be one of the biggest challenges though - and some only make a change after loved ones raise the issue.”