Households across the UK could face repair bills of £200 or more if they pour cream liqueurs down the kitchen sink, experts have warned. With warmer weather driving demand for chilled drinks, those consuming cream-based alcoholic beverages are being urged to dispose of leftovers carefully to avoid costly plumbing issues.
Cream liqueurs are a plumber's nightmare
According to experts at SAGE, cream liqueurs have surged in popularity and are now available in flavours ranging from mango and strawberry to espresso and salted caramel. However, regardless of flavouring, all cream liqueurs are classified as FOG – fats, oils, and grease – which can wreak havoc on pipes. FOG is known as a plumber's worst nightmare and also includes gravy, ice cream, cream, cooking oils, salad dressings, butter, and lard.
Fatbergs and blocked pipes
Pouring any FOG substance down the sink can lead to blocked pipes and fatbergs – large, hard blockages in sewers made from hardened fats, oils, and grease mixed with other waste. Thames Water reports that in London alone, more than 100 tonnes of fat are poured down sinks every day, requiring the utility to clear over 100,000 blockages annually. Solidified fat is responsible for more than half of these blockages.
Thames Water warns: "Even if you block a pipe in your home by mistake, it’s legally your responsibility to fix it. Calling out a plumber to fix it could cost you more than £200."
Tuna brine also a risk
On June 26, DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles appeared on BBC's Morning Live to discuss fatbergs and urged people not to pour tuna brine or oil down the sink. Although brine is mostly water and salt, leftover fish oils and particles can build up in pipes, mix with soap, and cause serious blockages or fatbergs. Knowles said: "Don't pour your oils down the sink. I mean, most people know not to pour oils down your sink in the bathroom or in your kitchen now. But actually, most of us will drain a tin of tuna into the sink. With the oil that's in a tin of tuna, or maybe the fat from an air fryer, or coffee grounds, all these things add to create a block."
How to dispose safely
Knowles advises scraping leftover oils and fats into a disposable container, such as an empty baked bean tin, and throwing it in the bin. This simple step helps prevent blockages and avoids expensive repair bills.
