Dry January: Here’s How to Get Involved

At the start of each new year, do you vow to take part in Dry January but never quite kickstart a healthier regime? If you’re nodding your head, perhaps 2022 is the year to finally give it a go – even if you’re still yet to do so on January 7. After all, cutting down on alcohol consumption is never a bad idea.

So, what is Dry January?

It’s the UK’s one-month, alcohol-free challenge – and you can find out more about it here. The people behind the initiative say ‘it isn’t about giving anything up. It’s about getting something back.’

Inviting you to ‘get your fun back’ by getting involved, organisers say you can ‘get your energy back’ and ‘get your calm back’ by going alcohol-free.

Why take a month off alcohol?

According to the people who set up Dry January, 70% of participants in the booze-free month slept better.

On top of that, 86% of people saved money, and 65% noticed generally improved health. In short, why wouldn’t you get involved too? 

Research published in 2018, conducted by the Royal Free Hospital and published in the British Medical Journal, also found that a month off alcohol lowers blood pressure, reduces diabetes risk, lowers cholesterol, and reduces the levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood.

How do I get started?

The Dry January site has a wealth of information and tips for anyone who has embarked on the month-long alcohol cull. There’s even an app you can download, which will help keep you on track.

What can you do to stay on course?

As well as downloading the app, linked above, you can embark on Dry January with friends and family – doing so will make you much more likely to stick to your goals. That way, you can spur each other on and keep everyone motivated to see out the whole month. Perhaps, by the end of January, you’ll fancy going alcohol-free for another month, particularly if you’ve noticed beneficial effects such as improved sleep and a better mood.

Organisers of Dry January say the real magic happens when the month is over, as the initiative helps people drink more healthily year-round. In fact, research conducted by the University of Sussex has found that ‘six months after Dry January more than 70% of people who take on the month with Alcohol Change UK’s Try Dry app or coaching emails are still drinking more healthily.’

What can I drink during Dry January?

The aim is to go completely alcohol-free – and thanks to the fact that a wealth of alcohol brands now offer alcohol-free versions of popular tipples, you could say it’s easier than ever to get involved.

Look out for alcohol-free branded gin, beer and wine. You can even get no-alcohol prosecco, perfect for celebrating special occasions during January.

The Internet has lots of recipes too, for non-alcoholic mocktails everyone will enjoy drinking as much as they enjoy making. We love the sound of this non-alcoholic mojito, which really packs a punch in terms of flavour. The Taste site has plenty more mocktail recipes too – head here.

Will you be giving dry January a go? Let us know by commenting on this blog post, below.

Until next time…