Study procedures
At baseline, we administered a structured questionnaire which included demographics, AUDIT‐C adapted to the prior 3 months, ART use, and current tobacco and other substance use assessments. We completed baseline study visits within 14 days of enrolment. After 24 weeks from baseline, study staff administered the AUDIT‐C for the prior 3 months.Laboratory assessments included HIV‐1 RNA viral load, CD4 cell count and PEth level, a quantitative biomarker of recent alcohol consumption, at baseline, and viral load and PEth at week 24. We prepared dried blood spots onto Whatman 903 cards, and shipped them in batches to a commercial laboratory, the United States Drug Testing Laboratory (USDTL, Des Plaines, IL), for quantification of PEth (16:0/18:1 homologue), with an 8 ng/ml lower limit of quantification [Participants received a transport reimbursement (500KSH or 20,000UGX, approximately US$5 in 2021) for in‐person study visits at baseline, week 12 (intervention only) and week 24.