Nearly half the Swiss population is in some way affected by alcohol problems, an addiction support group has said.

Addiction Info Suisse is launching a new round-the-clock manned website to help alcoholics and their friends and family with questions and problems.

The group hopes the website will help overcome the taboo of talking about alcoholism, and says the website allows people to seek help anonymously and to receive quick responses to basic questions.

The group says it will build on their other support options of telephone lines, advice and brochures. Adverts for the website will be appearing in Swiss cinemas.

Around 250,000 people are alcoholics in Switzerland, but half of Swiss know someone with alcohol problems, according to Addiction Info Suisse.

Online assessments will help people see if they have an addiction problem.

swissinfo.ch and agencies