Addiction expert warns of dangers of Wetherspoon Facebook game that encourages people to order booze for strangers - saying it could put alcoholics at risk

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An addiction expert has warned of the dangers of buying drinks for strangers online - after a Facebook 'game' that encourages people to order booze to the tables of people they've never met, using the Wetherspoon pub app, became hugely popular. 

The 'Wetherspoons Game and Giveaway' on the social media platform was set up in 2021 to 'spread free drinks, food and prizes' to those who drink in the UK pub chain, which is often referred to just as 'Spoons'. 

It has no official links to Wetherspoons and isn't endorsed by the pub chain but its members are growing daily with just shy of 75,000 members now in the group. 

However, a university professor has warned against potential pitfalls of the well-intentioned game, saying it could put those in recovery from an alcohol use disorder at risk - and also compromise personal safety because drinkers share specific details on where they are, before many of them then get intoxicated. 

The game asks drinkers to post a selfie, their table number and the name of the Wetherspoon pub they're drinking in onto the Facebook group; strangers who see it then order drinks and food direct to that table via the Wetherspoon app. 

Some of the revellers requesting free drinks via the 'Wetherspoons Game and Giveaway' Facebook group app this week; the game, which has been popular since 2018, is designed to let Facebook users buy a round of drinks for strangers, with the idea that they will then do the same for someone else

While most food and drink-based ordering apps use a phone's location to track where the customer is, the Wetherspoon app asks users to manually verify where they are, meaning generous strangers can order to any table in any pub in the chain. 

A team of around 16 moderators currently have the power to turn off comments, which kills the 'game' online - but still doesn't stop people ordering drinks to the table should they wish too.  

Confirmation images showing that drinks have been bought - and sent to strangers' tables - that are often shared on the Facebook group after drinks requests have been made. Right: The receipt above shows a gin and tonic purchase being made by someone online for a person at the Paddle Steamer pub in North Ayrshire, Scotland

With the festive season well underway, the anonymous drinks are flowing, with dozens of people posting every day, often putting requests in as to what they'd like ordered to their table. 

Yesterday, two nursery nurses posted to the page, saying 'just alcohol please no food as we have already had a meal' and stating they were at table 103 in the The Tim Bobbin in the Manchester area of Urmston.

While the Facebook group has rules, the University of Derby's Dr Alex Barker says the game is fraught with potential dangers. Pictured: A first-time game player pictured this week 

After three free rounds of drinks were sent by strangers, including one who wrote: 'I work with kids too. Guessing you need these drinks', the Facebook group's administrator turned off the comments discouraging people from ordering them any more - because the nursery workers were new members who hadn't yet sent drinks to others. 

Elsewhere, a couple drinking on Monday at The Paddle Steamer in Largs, North Ayrshire requested gin and Corona to table 67. And found several rounds of free drinks sent in their direction. 

One poster wrote: 'sent over a gin for you! xx' to which the poster responded: 'Oh bless thank you soooo much. This game is hysterical.'

The lecturer says the Facebook group - in no way affiliated to the pub chain - could see the personal safety of drinkers compromised. Pictured: Two women requesting drinks via the Facebook group in Manchester this week

Dr Alex Barker, a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby and an addiction expert, says the game could cause harm and users should be wary before spending their money on alcohol for people they don't know.   

He told MailOnline that the game was normalising a potentially harmful behaviour, saying: 'Providing free food and drink to strangers is very altruistic, especially during a cost of living crisis. 

'However, we know that alcohol content in the media, including social media, can lead to alcohol initiation and subsequent consumption by adolescents and continued consumption by adults, especially those at risk of or in recovery from an alcohol use disorder.'

The professor added that the link between cheap alcohol - and in this case free - could also be harmful. 

He explains: 'We know that the price of alcohol affects the amount consumed. By engaging in this game, people may drink more than they would otherwise as they may be ordered more drinks than they could afford, or adopt binge-drinking behaviours as they are ordered more drinks than they would consume normally.'

In the season of goodwill, the game has grown in popularity - with people sending free drinks with the hope that they'll get one in return when they post a similar request. Pictured: Players of the game in Scotland

After this photo of table 67 at The Paddle Steamer pub in Largs was posted on the group, the first of several free drinks to the table arrived

Barker also points out that the rules on the Facebook group rely on users being honest, saying: 'To take part, users must post a picture of themselves and their table number but there is nothing stopping people posting a picture of someone else with their own table number. 

'The game also involves users disclosing their location and appearance before potentially becoming highly intoxicated by strangers. There is a safety angle which does not currently seem to be being considered.' 

A spokesman for Wetherspoon, Eddie Gershon, told MailOnline that any drinks order made via the app would be subject to the same rules as if they were ordered at the bar.  

He said: 'All sales of alcohol at Wetherspoon’s pubs, whether via the app or from the bar, are subject to the same policies and procedures to comply with our legal responsibilities to prevent excessive consumption of alcohol and prevent the sale and consumption of alcohol to and by under 18s. 

'These policies and procedures apply to any orders made under the Wetherspoon Game, which is not sanctioned or promoted by the company.'