DrinksRation is managed by Dr Daniel Leightley at King’s College London (KCL). The research team operates independently of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), and our work has influenced policy for serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
Our research complies with King’s College London governance frameworks and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), supporting high scientific, ethical, and legal standards.
DrinksRation was created in 2016 to support the Armed Forces community in managing alcohol use. A feasibility study in 2016 to 2017 engaged 31 veterans to help design and test DrinksRation. In 2022, a randomised controlled trial reported reductions in alcohol consumption. DrinksRation is now publicly available.
Dr Daniel Leightley, on behalf of King’s College London (KCL), acts as the data controller. We are responsible for safeguarding your data, keeping it secure, and ensuring it is used appropriately.
We collect app analytics data using Firebase Analytics to understand how DrinksRation is used. We do not collect unique device identifiers, location, or Wi-Fi data for this purpose.
You may also choose to provide self-reported information about your drinking and responses to in-app questionnaires. This can include the day, type, and price of an alcoholic drink. Providing self-reported data is optional.
We follow data minimisation principles and aim to collect only what is needed to deliver the DrinksRation service. We are not responsible for third-party services you may use alongside the app, and you should review their privacy policies separately.
Your data may be used for academic research, which requires appropriate ethical approvals. Findings may be published as anonymous, aggregated results and shared with relevant communities, Armed Forces organisations, and public health bodies.
We will not share your identifiable personal data with a third party without your explicit consent, unless we are required to do so by law.
Data are retained for 7 years after your last entry. After this period, if no further analysis is planned, data will be securely destroyed in line with our retention practices.
Data are transmitted and stored using encrypted protocols. Access is restricted to authorised KCL research team members.
We follow recognised security practices and governance frameworks, including alignment with the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit approach where applicable. Your data are used for research and service improvement and will not be used to make decisions about services such as insurance.
Under UK GDPR, the lawful basis for processing is Article 6(1)(e): processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
Where health-related information is processed, an additional condition may apply under Article 9(2)(j): processing is necessary for scientific or historical research purposes, subject to appropriate safeguards.
You can request correction of inaccurate information and request access to your data by contacting Dr Daniel Leightley.
If you have opted out of data sharing, we may be unable to provide a copy of data that are stored only on your device.
To request deletion of your data, please contact Dr Daniel Leightley. We aim to remove app-held data within 24 hours of receiving your request.
To object to processing of your personal data, you can contact the KCL Data Protection Officer.
Contact information:
Email Dr Daniel Leightley: [email protected]
Email KCL Data Protection Officer: [email protected]
If you have concerns about how your data have been handled, contact the KCL Data Protection Officer. If you remain dissatisfied, you can raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Contact information:
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
https://ico.org.uk
This policy is reviewed regularly. If we make material changes to how we process data, we will notify you via the app where appropriate.
Last reviewed and updated: 26/01/2026.
Copyright © 2024-2026 - All rights reserved