Hamish Champ: Educating people about the 'demon drink'

As many of us are all too aware, too much of a good thing can backfire. Eating excessively, doing too much exercise - especially exercise, for those like me possessed of a weak constitution - and drinking more than our system is able to handle can, inevitably, take their toll.

A friend of mine once suggested that hangovers were God's way of reminding us to cut out the booze for a day or two, and while I'm not a religious man I can see how some would reach such a conclusion.

Given drink's potential to cause harm to the vulnerable it's understandable that an organisation like the 'alcohol awareness charity' Drinkaware should highlight the perils of excessive consumption.

But I found pinning its latest survey onto St Valentine's Day rather over the top.

A survey published by the organisation last week found that more than one in four relationships were "marred" by alcohol.

More than 26 per cent of adults have apparently conceded that they've argued with a partner due to the booze. One in 10 adults "endures current or previous partners flirting with other people" because of excessive alcohol consumption.

And 11 per cent "have suffered embarrassment when a current or previous partner has had too many to drink".

I'm not sure what to make of this sort of thing. Obviously alcohol has the potential to be incredibly damaging to those who abuse it. And perhaps reminders such as these are integral to a healthy society.

But the tone of Drinkaware's findings reminded me of those public information films I watched as a kid in the '60s and '70s: well-meaning, but more than a bit simplistic.

Summing up the survey Chris Sorek, Drinkaware's head honcho, said: "Valentine's Day is an ideal opportunity to highlight the impact alcohol can have on couples because the day is all about celebrating your relationship and putting your loved one first… it's important to asses whether drinking is worth the alcohol-related arguments. Relationships are an important aspect of anyone's life, why ruin it with alcohol?"

I'm sure he means well, and it must be a difficult line to tread, namely to warn people of the potential damage drink can do but stopping short of preaching.

It's just a shame Drinkaware's latest effort sounds so… patronising.